Brisbane, QLD


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

At camera club we have been learning about bird photography so a trip to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary was organised.  The sanctuary has an interesting history: Alex Griffiths moved from NZ and bought a 26h property in Currumbin in 1944, where he grew flowers. To stop the lorikeets from ruining the flowers he started feeding them with a honey mixture so that they would leave the flowers alone. Every evening at 4:30 flocks of the wild honey eaters would fly into his property to be fed. It soon became a tourist attraction.  In 1956, National Geographic wrote an article about the flocks of wild birds that came to be fed at Currumbin. This increased the number of international tourists. In 1976 Griffith donated the property to the people of Queensland and it was to be run by the National Trust. Now it has developed into a great wildlife reserve with lots of shows and activities as well as the largest collection of Australian wildlife species in the world. It also cares for sick and injured animals in its wildlife hospital. They have great educational programs for children too. 
The bird feeding has continued  ever since 1947. It is at 8:30am and 4:00 pm. The birds fly in and sit in the trees waiting until the dishes of honey mixture are ready. 

Staff members give tourists the plates to hold and then the birds come in droves . They sit on the plate and drink the solution. They screech and peck each other at times. 

They sit on your thumb,......

they sit on your head, your glasses, your arms and shoulders.

One of our dedicated camera club members, Ros tries to do both; feed the birds and photograph them at the same time. She takes fabulous shots too.

It was easier for me as I didn't take a dish.


You are probably sick of lorikeets now after this and my last post. I'll show you some other birds that we saw there next time.



26 comments:

  1. Very good close ups. I have certainly heard of Currumbin Sanctuary

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  2. Beautiful colours they have, nice photos.

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  3. Your post yesterday had me thinking about Currumbin. It is ok for them to feed the birds, why not an old lady?

    Up at Katooma they eventually stopped the tourist centre feeding the birds and I am not sure I agree. It is so lovely for people to see our beautiful bird close up.

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  4. The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is a wonderful place to visit. My parents were visiting there back in the 1960's and I have also been several times, but not since 2003. We hope to visit whenever we next family holiday on the Gold Coast. Marvellous place.

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  5. Ohhh what an amazing place to take the cameras. I'd have been in heaven for sure and who could get sick of such colorful parrots! Pashaaa... LOL

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  6. i think they're wonderful. glad the reserve has been created.

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  7. Would have loved to see that ! What beautiful birds ! So colorful,

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  8. never ever never sick of these birds, keep them coming.. i would very much love to visit this place. the story is amazing.

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  9. That sounds like a great class you are taking, with the field trips and all. I would be so excited about the birds perching on my thumb photos would be forgotten!

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  10. Nope, will never get sick of lorikeets. Super photos Diane! My one experience with them was in Florida years ago. It was in an aviary and I thought what friendly birds they were and very comical. It would be fantastic to see them in the wild.

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  11. Diane, I could never be tired of seeing these pretty Lorikeets.. They are beautiful birds.. Your photos are awesome...

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  12. What a great day out Diane ... I visited here a few years back but at that stage wasn't into photography so I would love to visit with my trusty Canon.

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  13. What a marvelous experience this must have been, I thought the birds were aware of the time we put out the feeders at our house, but they've never let us get so close. You got some great pictures.

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  14. BEAUTIFUL !! And I want one. :)

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  15. This is my favourite place of OZ. Your photos are fab.

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  16. Brilliant pics of these wonderfully vibrant birds Diane, it's so good to be able to get so close, I never tire of taking shots of them in my back garden. :)

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  17. Have you sent your dear lorikeets across to me???
    This morning as I was coming back from Wooloowin Station
    and was walking under a fully laden of new blooms Bottle Brush tree full of
    these birds - one decided my hat was for the picking and landed
    on my head. As it got no nectar, it decided to leave me a present!!!
    Poop! I thank you Diane from the bottom of my heart - ha ha!
    (No I don't!)
    Maybe it was the result of that fierce storm yesterday evening that
    made this bloody bird so disoriented????
    Cheers (???)
    Colin

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  18. Lovely photos Diane, you certainly have done well...

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  19. I don't think I could ever get tired of lorikeets. So exotic (to me)and so beautiful. A great place that does wonderful work.

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  20. What a wonderful experience; I’d love to do that. I do my best to photograph the Lanzarote birdlife but with mixed results.

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