Wildlife Calendar

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Burnie is a nature lover’s paradise, home to some of Tasmania’s most iconic wildlife.

This Wildlife Calendar shows when native species are most active, breeding, or visible throughout the year, along with guidance on how to protect them. Wildlife activity changes with the seasons due to breeding cycles, food availability, and migration patterns, offering opportunities to see wildlife in their natural habitats, as well as times when it’s important to give them space.

Protecting Burnie’s Wildlife

  • Sensitive breeding periods = reduce disturbance
  • Nocturnal activity = avoid artificial lighting
  • Feeding times = increased road crossing risk
  • Keep pets under control in reserves
  • Drive slowly at dawn and dusk
  • Turn off external lights near bushland
  • Do not feed wildlife
  • Report injured animals

If you find injured wildlife, Contact Bonorong Wildlife Rescue:Call 0447 264 625 (24/7 service) for assistance.

 

Wildlife Calendar

Use the arrows to the right to scroll through the months of the year ->

  January February March April May June July August September October November December
Penguins Chicks fledge, moulting Adult moult, feeding Feeding, pre-moult prep Moulting begins Moulting Resting, feeding at sea Feeding, pre-breeding prep Returning to burrows Courtship, egg laying begins Egg incubation, chick hatching Chick rearing Chicks growing, pre-fledge
Native Hens Chicks hatch Juveniles learning to forage Adults nesting Nesting continues Foraging Foraging Foraging Nest-building begins Nesting, laying eggs Chicks hatch Chicks foraging Chicks fledging
Kookaburra Chicks fledging Juveniles fledging Nest-building Nest-building Nesting ends Territorial calls begin Territorial calls intensify Nest-building Egg laying begins Incubating eggs Raising chicks Chicks fledging
Wattlebird Breeding, raising chicks Raising chicks Foraging, nesting Foraging Foraging Foraging Territorial calls intensify Nesting, breeding Raising chicks Raising chicks Raising chicks Breeding resumes
Plovers Nesting and laying eggs Incubation and chicks hatch Chicks learning to forage Juveniles independent Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting and laying eggs Incubation and chicks hatch Chicks learning to forage Juveniles independent Foraging
Swift Parrots Breeding, raising chicks Chicks learning to forage Foraging and dispersal Foraging and migration Migrating north Resting in migration areas Resting in migration areas Returning south Nesting begins Egg laying, incubation Raising chicks Raising chicks
Eagles Nest building Nesting, egg laying Incubating eggs Chicks hatch Raising young Juveniles learning to hunt Juveniles hunting Territorial activity Territorial activity Foraging Nest building Nest building
Gulls Chicks fledging Juveniles foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting begins Egg laying Incubating eggs Chicks hatch Chicks fledging
Bats Breeding season Raising pups Juveniles flying Foraging Foraging Resting and foraging Resting and foraging Resting and foraging Mating begins Breeding season Breeding season Pups raised
Possums Mating season Joeys in pouch Joeys on back Foraging with young Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Mating season Joeys raised
Blue-tongue Skink Active, basking Active, basking Mating season Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating season Mating season
Snakes Active, basking Active, basking Mating season Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating season Mating season
Freshwater Lobster Active, foraging Active, foraging Foraging, mating Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Foraging Foraging Egg laying Egg laying
Bandicoot Mating season Joeys in pouch Joeys leaving pouch Joeys foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Mating season Raising young Raising young
Quolls Mating season Gestation Joeys in pouch Joeys leaving pouch Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Raising young Raising young
Tree Frog Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry)
Grass Frog Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry)
Crickets Calling and mating Calling and mating Egg laying Feeding and calling Feeding Dormant (winter months) Dormant (winter months) Feeding and calling Feeding and calling Egg laying Calling and mating Calling and mating
Bees Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Dormant (if cold) Dormant (if cold) Dormant (if cold) Emerging and foraging Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar

 

Best Wildlife Locations in Burnie

Coastal Areas (penguins, seabirds, shorelife, sea eagles)

Burnie Foreshore / West Beach

    • Little penguins (dusk viewing in season)
    • Shorebirds and occasional dolphin sightings
    • Key section of the coastal boardwalk network
    South Burnie Foreshore (Esplanade)
    • Seabirds, estuarine feeding activity
    • Coastal pathway access and rocky shoreline habitat
    Cooee Beach / Ocean Vista coastline
    • Quiet shorebird habitat
    • Rock pools and coastal biodiversity zones
    Wivenhoe Beach
    • Estuarine birdlife and waders
    • Sheltered feeding areas for waterbirds
    Emu River Mouth & Coastal Headlands
    • White-bellied sea eagles riding coastal updrafts
    • Cormorants, gulls, migratory seabirds (seasonal)
    • One of the best raptor viewing corridors in Burnie
    Burnie Coastal Pathway Lookouts (CBD–South Burnie stretch)
    • Elevated viewpoints for seabirds and sea eagles
    • Best viewing conditions: calm, clear mornings or late afternoon

 

Reserves (platypus, wallabies, birdlife)

Fern Glade Reserve (Emu River)

    • Platypus (best at dawn and dusk)
    • Echidnas, wallabies, and native birdlife
    • One of Tasmania’s most accessible platypus viewing sites
    Emu Valley Rhododendron Garden
    • Birdlife-rich gardens (honeyeaters, rosellas, wrens)
    • Seasonal nectar feeding activity
    • Quiet refuge for small mammals and amphibians in surrounding bush edges
    Upper Natone Reserve (hinterland bushland)
    • Wallabies, wombats (occasional), echidnas
    • High biodiversity forest and creek environments
    • Less disturbed habitat with strong nocturnal activity

 

Bushland Trails (wallabies, echidnas, birdlife)

Romaine Reserve

    • Wallabies, waterbirds around dam edges
    • Bushwalking trails and wetland habitat
    View Road Reserve (Park Grove)
    • Echidnas, skinks, small mammals
    • Creek corridors and dense bushland
    Burnie Park / Oldaker Falls
    • Urban birdlife and occasional wallabies nearby
    • Waterfall habitat supporting insects and frogs

Pet Dam

  • Wallabies and birdlife around forest edge
  • Popular local recreation spot with surrounding bush habitat

Guide Falls Reserve (near Upper Natone)

  • Forest birdlife (lyrebirds, honeyeaters, wrens)
  • Wallabies and echidnas in surrounding bush
  • Seasonal waterfall flow and cool rainforest microhabitat

 

 

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