P.O. Box 6314, Dunedin 9059 New Zealand Telephone (64) 3477 9922 [email protected] www.naturequest.co.nz

w ww.westernfieldornithologists.org

WILD WITH NATURE QUEST and WESTERN FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS – Endemic , Marsupials, and Wilderness

A Guided Nature Adventure in Tasmania and Southern , Led by Mark Ayre of Nature Quest and WFO President Kurt Leuschner.

Departs : from Hobart

Dates : January 4 – 18, 2020

Price : These prices are per person.

On minimum of 12 participants $(US) 6440.00

(prices are based upon an exchange rate of $A1.00 = $US0.74, and are subject to change with an alteration of the exchange rate)

Includes: Services of tour naturalist, Mark Ayre, and WFO Leader, Kurt Leuschner

All tour travel departing in Hobart and terminating in , excluding flight Hobart to Melbourne, which should be booked as part of international ticket. All meals, three daily, excepting one dinner in Hobart. All accommodation, twinshare with private facilities in quality hotels and lodges. Admission fees where applicable – national park concession Fees Excursions –Bruny Island ferry, Bruny Island excursion, Wildlife Excursions Melbourne , Platypus excursion, Pelagic trip Point Fairy, Victoria. SW Tasmanian Orange Bellied Parrot Excursion Information folio including background ecological information and species lists for areas visited. Goods and Services Tax of 15%

Add-ons : For Single Room add $(US)840.00 per person.

Itinerary

Jan 04, 2020 : Arrive Hobart, and transfer to central Hobart accommodation. A first outing will be to a local reserve where should hold Hoary Headed Grebe, Coot, Pacific Black Duck, and Sulphur crested Cockatoos call from the . The fascinating Echidna may put in an appearance as it forages through the understorey. Stay tonight Travel Lodge Hobart Airport.

Jan 05 : Mt Wellington provides a dramatic backdrop to the city of Hobart. We gain a first introduction to the Tasmanian alpine environment, and we shall also discover some of the diversity of the renowned Australian and on the mid slopes. Noisy Grey Shrike Thrushes. Superb Fairy Wren, Brown Thornbill, Yellow Throated Honeyeater and Grey Fantail frequent the mid slopes, while on the summit Brown Falcon and Black Currawong may make their appearance. Later we shall call into a local reserve just south of Hobart. In the region look out for the large flightless Tasmanian Native Hen, and in the shrubs and forest of the reserve – Yellow Wattlebirds, and Forty Spotted Pardalotes are possible.. This afternoon take the ferry from south of Hobart to the renowned island of Bruny. Black Faced Cormorant frequent these waters. The carnivorous Eastern Quolls can be seen more readily on Bruny than in any other part of the island. This evening we shall seek them out along with Brush Tailed Possums and endemic Tasmanian Pademelons,. Stay Bruny Island three nights.

Jan 06 : Explore Inala, a ‘Land for Wildlife’ property on South Bruny, and gain further insights into the endemic wildlife and birdlife of this unique region. Inala is a 205 hectare (500 acre property) located north of Cloudy. It is home to 90 species (including all of the Tasmanian endemic species), almost 40 species of native terrestrial orchids, an amazing diversity of plant species and several species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Of particular interest today will be the Forty Spotted Pardalote, Striated Pardalote, Strong billed Honeyeater, Yellow Honeyeater, Black headed Honeyeater, Dusky Robin, Brush Bronzewing, Eastern Spinebill, Flame Robin and Green Rosella. Small terrestrial orchids such as the Purple Bird Orchid may also be seen. On local coastline and beaches watch out for Wedge tailed Eagle, White Bellied Sea Eagle, Australasian Pied Oystercatcher, and Sooty Oystercatcher.

Jan 07 : further day on Bruny Island.

Jan 08 : Early morning drive back to Hobart. Full day excursion from Hobart to the South-west Wildereness of Tasmania. Fly from Hobart Airport to Melaleuca, home to the endangered Orange-bellied Parrot. There are also excellent opportunities to view Beautiful Firetails, Crescent Honeyeater and the secretive Ground Parrot, Southern Emu-wren, and Striated Fieldwren. Stay Rydges Hobart

Jan 09: Travel inland to the World Heritage area encompassing St Clair and Cradle Mountain. We take a walk through black peppermint forest on the shores of the lake. Here the endemics Tasmanian Scrub-wren and Yellow Wattlebird occur along with Pink Robin. Travel through the passes to western Tasmania. We’ll listen and look for the unusual Eastern Ground Parrot this evening, along with Southern Emu Wren (ssp litteri), Beautiful Firetail, Striated Fieldwren, (the Western Tasmanian ssp diemenensis), Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Brush Bronzewing and Olive Whistler. Stay Strahan Village Inn tonight.

Jan 10 : Travel to Cradle Mountain National Park. Good opportunities for Echidnas later today along the road verge. Great hikes to Crater Lake and Cradle Mountain depart from this area. Scrub Tits, Tasmanian Scrub Wren are features of the buttongrass and shrublands. Evening walk for Common Wombats, Pademelons, Bennett’s Wallabies, and possible Spotted Tailed Quolls Stay Cradle Mountain Hotel tonight. Jan 11 : Morning walks along the Cradle Valley boardwalk, usually with Metallic Skinks in abundance and to the calls of Tasmanian Froglets. Following lunch Depart Cradle Mountain and travel north to the coast. This evening visit a seabird colony on The Nut. Marvel and ‘duck’ as 13,000 Short Tailed Shearwaters return to their burrows around your feet. Southern Brown Bandicoots occur in the vicinity, and the Stanley ‘nightlife’ consists of Little Penguins walking down the main street, and Tasmanian Pademelons sitting at the cross-roads ! Stay Stanley Seaview Inn one night.

Jan 12 : Travel inland to the Mountain Wilderness Retreat, in the lost valley of Loonganna in NW Tasmania. Eleven of the twelve Tasmanian endemics can be found in this private forest sanctuary. After dark the marsupial life may astound. Tasmanian Devils and Spotted Tailed Quolls frequent the immediate vicinity of the lodge, and the views of Tasmanian Devils can be unrivalled. Stay Mountain Valley Retreat and nearby B&B if required.

Jan 13 : Just after dawn we shall seek the graceful Platypus in the wild as it glides through the water on creeks adjacent to the town. Then it is off the northern coast and the Narrawntapu National Park. This park has abundant marsupial wildlife, including Forresters Kangaroos on the ‘marsupial lawns’ surrounding the , and Southern Bettongs in the shrublands. Copperhead snakes are also regularly viewed in this area. A newly created walkway near Launceston will provide with a variety of waterfowl, estuarine and scrub birds – Grey Teal, Chestnut Teal, Australasian Shoveler, Great Egret, Australian Pelican, and Australian Peregrine overhead. Late afternoon arrive in Launceston and flight to Melbourne. Stay Rydges Melbourne

Jan 14 : Full Day and evening excursion to the west of Melbourne. View a wide range of Victorian wildlife, in the Serendip Sanctuary, including Grey Kangaroo, Wallaby, Emu, and a wonderful array of water loving birds such as Yellow-billed and Royal Spoonbills, Magpie Geese, Night Heron, White faced Heron, Pacific Heron, Black-headed Plover, Dusky Moorhen, Australian Ibis, and Straw-necked Ibis. In addition overhead Whistling Kites, Back Kites and Little Eagle survey all. Learn of the Koala research being undertaken in the Brisbane Ranges, seek out Koala and gain a real insight into natural values of the greater Melbourne region. Tawny Frogmouth is regularly viewed in these hills, along with Musk and Purple-crowned Lorikeets, Galah, Long-billed Corella, and White Winged Chough. Stay Lorne tonight.

Jan 15 : Day excursion to the Werribee Ponds region west of Melbourne. The vast system is home to a huge array of shore and birds. Jan 16 : Full day pelagic from Port Fairy on the Great Ocean Road.

Jan 17 : Further day excursion in the Melbourne region. We shall visit the local ranges and spend the morning searching for birds such as the secretive Superb Lyrebird, the Eastern Whipbird, Red Wattlebird, White- naped Honeyeater, parrots such as Eastern Rosella, Crimson Rosella, King Parrot, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. Afternoon return to Melbourne. Stay Rydges Melbourne.

Jan 18 : Transfer to Melbourne Airport for flights back to the USA.

Weather

Tasmania’s summer months are December to February, bringing high temperatures and sunshine. Days are long and sunny, nights are mild. Summer is an excellent time for walking in the bush and a variety of other outdoor activities. Tasmania has a relaxed lifestyle, so dress will be informal at all times. Bring comfortable clothing and anticipate a similar range of temperatures to Britain - it should be pleasantly warm/hot in the east of the island but, as in all mountainous areas, expect some cold and windy weather in the West. Rain is possible at all times. Comfortable footwear is essential -as it must be strong enough to withstand rough ground underfoot; walking boots or stout shoes are recommended. Likely temperature range is 10 C to 25 C. Temperatures in the Melbourne region are likely to be in the 25 to 35 C.

Transport and travelling

We shall be using an air-conditioned coach/van throughout the trip with microphone, ample luggage storage in the trailer, and tea and coffee provisions

Accommodation

All accommodation is of a very comfortable standard and all rooms have private facilities. In most locations it is average to good standard, 3 star equivalent, although higher than this on occasion. Participants are strongly encouraged to sign up with a roommate, as single rooms may not be available in some locations. We cannot find roommates for you.

Signing Up Once announced via WFO email in the last part of March (first to WFO life members (6 spots maximum) and then a week later to all WFO members), interested participants will email Kurt Leuschner at [email protected] and will be placed on the list in the order received. 15 participants maximum. Once the list has been confirmed, you will be sent further details regarding deposits, flights etc. to solidify your place. General questions about the trip may be emailed to [email protected] at any time.

Leader - Mark Ayre

Originally from the UK where he worked as warden on bird reserves, Mark came to NZ some 33 years ago and settled by Lake Wanaka in the heart of the South Island mountains. Mark and his wife, Mary, initially worked at whatever they could to remain in one of New Zealand’s most spectacular regions, and today they are still active in a number of vocations. Mark runs a yacht charter business on the lake, an alternative energy consultancy, and the family run a kennels and cattery, which are situated on their rural property overlooking the Hawea River. A keen birdwatcher for most of his life, Mark has been a leading light the local Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society branch. He is currently branch Chairperson, and is particularly involved in the conservation management of the endangered Mohua (Yellowhead) in valleys near lake Wanaka. Mark has led birding trips for Nature Quest for the past fifteen years. Leader – Kurt Leuschner

A southern California native, Kurt Leuschner currently resides in Palm Desert, California with his wife Candice and three children, Luke, Drake, and Annabelle. He is a Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert, teaching a variety of courses in science and natural history for over 23 years. He holds a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Florida; his specialties include field ornithology, entomology, desert natural history and tropical ecology. Kurt has been leading and organizing birding and natural history trips all over the United States and the world since 1980, when he began working as an assistant leader for Pandion Nature Tours. After a year studying zoology and Kiswahili at the University of Nairobi and two years serving in Tanzania’s wildlife division with the U.S. Peace Corps, he began taking groups in 1993 to international destinations including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Egypt, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru, Western Europe, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Cuba. Africa remains a favorite destination with 19 visits to date. In 1996 he became a charter member of the African Bird Club and has been the sole U.S. representative for the ABC ever since. Since 2000, Kurt has been an active member of the Western Field Ornithologists and currently serves as the President and chair of the Field Trip Committee. In his spare time he researches (and bands) California Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma californica) and recently finished a project involving sound recording of this species and other closely-related corvids.