Bird Watching Tours

Christmas　Ｉｓｌａｎｄ　is home to a unique assemblage of land and seabirds found nowhere else in the world. Most are endemic (found only here) and many are considered rare and endangered.
We can tailor a tour to suit your level of exprience and interest.


Sea birds
The Abbott's Booby Papasula abbotti is the worlds rarest Sulid and was once found throughout the tropical Indian Ocean. Only 5000 remain, all on Christmas Island. It can nest only at the top of the largest primary rainforest trees, fortunately much of Christmas Island is national park 。The Abbotts Booby feeds several hundred kilometers to the north，along the Java Trench. Views of Abbotts Boobies along are Murry Road a highlight of this tour.

Christmas Island Frigate birds also the worlds rarest Frigatebird, nesting in two small colonies along the northern coast of Christmans Island. the total nesting area would not exceed ten hectares along the northern shore.
It is believed that the Christmas Island Frigatebird spends at least part of its year feeding as far away as the South China Sea. Since it takes a breeding pair over 18 months to raise the single chick, most successful breeders will only attempt to breed every second year. Recently it was found that female Christmas Frigatebirds also possess and utilize a small, tennis ball sized gula sac when approaching males on nests. This is a rare sight indeed
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The Golden Bosunbird, also known as he White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus fulvus) is famed for its startling golden plumage. This colour morph, unique to the island is found in most of the White-tailed Tropicbirds on the island. Their calls and stunning aerial display flights are a daily event usually after 1100am, when adult birds return from their foraging grounds, where they feed at night on squid. These birds nest in elevated shaded cavities in cliffs and tree hollows. Several thousand Red-tailed Tropicbirds Phaethon rubricauda westralis also breed on Christmas Island.




The best time to see the spectacular seabird colonies on Christmas Island is during the dry season, when most species are in full swing. Large colonies of Red-footed Boobies dot the tree tops with their nests, side by side with the Great Frigatebird Fregata minor whose spectacular displays by breeding males with their inflated red gula sacs continues on into June. Brown Boobies construct large nests of sticks on the ground, and is a common sight abutting the coastal sea cliffs, nervously fiddling with their nesting material. Brown Noddies nest atop coconut palms or often on ledges on the faces of the seacliffs.

Landbirds

Landbirds breed during the wet season (November-March). Three of the seven native land birds on Christmas Island are endemic, as well as four endemic subspecies. These are the Christmas Island Imperial Pigeon Ducula whartoni, The Christmas Island Hawkowl Ninox natalis and the Silvereye Zosterops natalis. Whilst the pigeon and the silvereye are common, it is rare to catch a glimpse of the Hawkowl although their calls may be heard at night. The Christmas Island Goshawk Accipiter fasciatus natalis is the islands largest bird of prey, occasionally found following visitors along walking trails or observed perched on low branches on roadsides. A curious bird and quite unafraid, some of the best bird encounters on the island are with this species.



The spectacular Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica natalis is a highlight of the tour, its plumage of brilliant green contrasting with its delicate orange bill. The Christmas Island Thrush is another curious forest bird, jumping from branch to branch in the hope of picking off a stray insect disturbed during your walk. Glossy Cave Swiftlets Collocalia esculenta natalis nest in caves and dart beneath the islands fig trees foraging on tiny flies.

There are also some interesting introduced species as well as vagrants. Of note also is the Java Finch Padda oryzivora, now rare across their native range in Java. These birds were introduced as pets to the island and the small flocks are seen regularly in the settled areas. White-breasted Water Hens Amaurornis phoenicurus are a recent arrival from Java, and now small numbers breed on Christmas Island.

Time your visit to coincide with the onset of the dry season in April to catch the spectacular frigatebird displays and the tail end of the land bird breeding season. Or visit the island during the wet season when all the land birds breed, secreting their nests among the branches of Christmas Islands spectacular rainforest. Anytime is a good time for bird watching on this emerald isle.

* All photos copyright Chris Surman.




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