Skytrans Blog

Far North Queensland tour operators Sicklebill Safaris offer guided bird and wildlife tours around the Cairns area, throughout Australia as well as too many overseas destinations. Most tours are designed for bird and wildlife enthusiasts whether they are beginners, experienced listers after specific species, or photographers. However, in recent years they have had great success, particularly in Japan, with their Companion Bird Tours which take owners to see their pets’ relatives in the wild.  One of the most popular venues is Boulia where at the right time of year it is possible to see vast flocks of budgies, a popular pet in most parts of the world. During the dry season the lack of water in the surrounding dry country acts like a magnet to the birds in so that they congregate around the towns areas of standing water. Last year there were several hundred roosting in the trees outside the hotel! 

Flying into Mt Isa on Skytrans with their guide, the small groups travel to Boulia where they spend the next few days exploring the local area looking at the birds. Members of the parrot family are popular pets and the Boulia area is home to a large number of them so clients can see wild Cockatiels, Galahs, Little Corellas, Sulphur-crested Cockatoos and Ring-necked Parakeets, all commonly kept pets, here as well. At the end of the tour which lasts only usually lasts 4 days the group returns to Mt Isa and takes the Skytrans flight back to Cairns. 

Companion bird tours are also offered to Cape York where the clients fly Skytrans into either Bamaga or Lockhart River, and further afield around Australia and overseas. The next tour to Boulia is scheduled for early September.

Web: www.sicklebillsafaris.com