Where's the Best Selection of Wildlife?

by Peggy
(Sunshine Coast, British Columbia, Canada)

Australia is on the top of my list for places I want to visit. I even have a friend there who I can stay with! My question is, what area would have the most abundant wildlife? I'm a nature photographer and any trip I take usually involves scoping out the best place for wildlife photography, which I'm especially interested in. My friend lives outside of Brisbane and she seems to get lots of birds around her yard. I'm not big on zoos...I'd prefer photographing in a natural environment.

Reply

Thank you for your question, Peggy.

Animals in Australia are not only diverse, but also unique. There are species that you can only photograph here in their natural habitat.

Coming to Australia is an excellent idea for capturing some interesting and remarkable images.
I think that you would find animals anywhere you go in this country, so could not indicate an area that has the most abundant wildlife.

You will be able to see kookaburras, the laughing birds in any larger park or natural reserve. You will definitely hear their distinctive burst of laughter.

You can see possums near homes close to bushland. They will walk on the fence and even jump on a table to snatch some leftover food. They would even come to a balcony of an apartment block if they know the residents leave some apple slices for them.

You will also see flying foxes hanging upside down from trees, where they feed on fruit.
I have a big gum tree in my back yard and in summer, when it is in bloom, I can spot flying foxes perched on branches. Some of them have babies hidden inside the huge, protective wings. And when they open them and fly out at the dusk...that's the moment to take a great photo.

If you leave Brisbane and come down to Sydney, the best place to see these funny looking "bats" is the Royal Botanic Gardens near the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

And if you are in Sydney you can also visit the Koala Sanctuary park, where these beautiful and cuddly marsupials walk free from a eucalyptus tree to the other in search for more leaves.

As for kangaroos just drive to any park or natural reserve - you'll get some nice pictures of roos and wallabies.

Vividly coloured parrots are everywhere, feeding on flowers of fruit trees. See one in the picture I uploaded above. Beautiful for a photographer, but what a pest for a fruit grower.

So lots of great wildlife almost anywhere. Just decide to visit your friend and travel a bit around. It will be a great experience.