Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park Has More Birds Than Any Other Kind Of

Home , Australian magpie, Brown goshawk, Grass wren, Ptilotula, Woodswallow

Fact sheet Birds

Yellow throated miner CREDIT: Corrine Le Gall

Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park has more Puli – rocky areas Tjalpu-tjalpu, (white-breasted birds than any other kind of animal. Familiarise Birds soar around Uluṟu and woodswallow, white-browed Kata Tjuṯa, or live among woodswallow, and black- yourself with Pitjantjatjara names so you can the plants growing at their faced woodswallow) glide for identify the birds in their natural habitats. bases. It is likely you will insects high on the cliff faces. see at least one species Tjanpi – spinifex Survival in arid regions of hawk. Tjanpi is a specialised Water dictates the survival of birds in arid regions. Many Species to look for include; habitat on the rocky slopes birds are either nomadic or migratory and after long periods Kirkinpa (brown falcon– around Kata Tjuṯa. of rain will move into the park in great numbers. Australian kestrel–Peregrine falcon), Wowo (Australian This particular spinifex The need to drink usually keeps birds within flying distance hobby), black-breasted species forms very prickly, of water. Insect eating birds (the largest group) and kite, Aralapalpalpa (crested fine-needled hummocks that carnivorous species supplement their water intake through pigeon), Warutjilyarpa you will be able to spot from moisture from food. To reduce water loss, bird droppings do Ptilotula keartlandi various points along the not contain much liquid. Instead, some birds pass crystals (grey-headed honeyeater), Valley of the Winds circuit. with their faeces. In high temperatures, small birds lose and Pititjaku-pititjaku water rapidly through evaporation – with most of it is lost There are two uncommon (pied butcherbird). from panting, not sweating, as birds have no sweat glands. species to look for – the Watch some types of painted fire-tail, and a kind of Finding birds Kirkinpa (Australian kestrels), Mirilyirilyi (dusky grass wren). While some birds range over all habitats, others live in only hover or perch as they Mirilyirilyi bounce over one. Look and listen carefully for birds. An̲ angu identify and search for prey on the boulders with their tails name birds by their calls. This way of naming birds is called ground. Falcons soar high cocked, but if disturbed, mnemonic (memory device). Say outloud the names and and prey on birds, small their tails will lower as they listen to the birds sound, and you will soon discover how mammals, reptiles, and run away. Shy by nature, the practical this system is. Similar sounding species are given insects killing by severing the bird will appear momentarily, the same general An̲ angu name. neck with one powerful bite. calling, singing, and running Patupiri (fairy martin) build about the rocks. bottle-shaped mud-nests in the caves but you are more likely to see them in flight.

ULURU KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK

ULURU KATA TJUTA NATIONAL PARK Kata Tjuṯa has two uncommon species among the spinifex: the painted fire-tail, and Mirilyirilyi (dusky grass wren)

Budgerigar swarm Splendid fairy wren Painted fire-tail CREDIT: Alex Eberli CREDIT: Brian Urby Bendon Jim CREDIT:

Puṯi – woodlands and shrublands Tali and pila – Get the checklist Puti habitat is accessible along most major park roads and open grasslands and app consists of grevilleas, hakeas, and desert oaks, all of which and dune areas A bird checklist is available offer food and shelter for the species; Tjintir-tjintirpa Tali and pila are the two from the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa (willy wagtail), Piyar-piyarpa (galah), Pititjaku-pititjaku most widespread habitats Cultural Centre. (pied butcherbird), Kurpaṟu (Australian magpie), Kalaya and they are also the first (emu), Kaanka (little and Torresian crows), and Kirkinpa Naturally, some birds are areas to show the effect (brown goshawk). Patilpa (Port Lincoln ringneck) are spotted more difficult to locate than of drought. The dunes are in desert oaks feeding on seeds. Pairs or flocks of others. If you find anything particularly fragile so please Tjalpu-tjalpu (black faced woodswallow ) search on the unusual or new, please let minimise your disturbance. wing for insects, or perch in trees waiting for insects to one of our rangers know – pass by the roads. Although mostly insect-fed, you may You might see; Miititi we are interested to hear see Tjalpu-tjalpu eating nectar and pollen. Divided tongues (crimson chat), Mirilyirilyi about it. enable them to reach to the flowers' centre. (dusky grass wren), The Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa Kakalyalya (pink cockatoo), National Park app for bird Puṯi wanaṟi – mulga Pirunkura (singing watching contains great Mulga is a common tree in the park and it grows in stands. honeyeater), Kirkinpa images, sounds of local You can find good stands next to the roads of Kata Tjuṯa and Tjalpu-tjalpu in the birdlife, park bird spotting where you may see; Mirilyirilyi (dusky grass wren), Tali and Pila open locations and bird names mininy-mininypa (yellow rumped thornbill ), Tjiṉṯu-tjiṉṯu grasslands and dune areas. on the audio-guide. (inland thornbill), Titiṟara (spiny-cheeked honeyeater), Tjintir-tjintirpa (willy wagtail), Tjalpu-tjalpu (black-faced woodswallow), Watu-watu (grey shrike-thrush), Download the Tjuun-tjuunpa (white-browed babbler), and Warutjilyarpa Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park app, (grey-headed honeyeater). happy bird watching! Tjukurpa (the An̲ angu creation period) tells how tjintir-tjintirpa hears faint sounds of singing coming from the northeast. Happily, she realises the mala (rufous hare-wallaby people) ceremonies have started. As an expression of her pleasure, she smiles and forms ikari, a cave near Muṯitjulu, at the base of Uluṟu. The Tjukurpa associated with nyii nyii tells of the travels of these bird ancestors and there is an inma (ceremony) for nyii-nyii which is an important part of ceremonial life.

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