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 each month of the year ->

 

 

🐦 Birds — Nesting, breeding & migration

Wildlife What to look for Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Little Penguin Adults returning to burrows; chicks in summer Chicks fledge Moult Feeding Moult Moult Feeding at sea Pre-breeding Return to burrows Courtship/eggs Incubation/chicks Raising chicks Chicks develop
Native Hen Groups foraging around wetlands and grass Chicks hatch Juveniles forage Nesting Nesting Foraging Foraging Foraging Nest building Eggs Chicks hatch Chicks forage Juveniles develop
Kookaburra Calling from trees; family groups Chicks fledge Juveniles fledge Nest building Nest building Nesting Territorial calls Territorial calls Nest building Eggs Incubation Raising chicks Chicks fledge
Wattlebird Feeding on flowering plants; loud calls Breeding/young Raising young Nesting Foraging Foraging Foraging Territorial Nesting Raising young Raising young Raising young Breeding
Plovers / Lapwings Ground nests; alarm calls Nesting/eggs Incubation/chicks Chicks forage Young independent Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting/eggs Incubation/chicks Chicks forage Young independent Foraging
Swift Parrot Feeding in flowering eucalypts Breeding Chicks Dispersal Migration Migrating north Away from Tasmania Away from Tasmania Returning Breeding Eggs/incubation Raising chicks Raising chicks
Green Rosella Feeding in trees and grassland Family groups Feeding Pairing Nest preparation Feeding Feeding Courtship Nest preparation Nesting Raising chicks Young Family groups
Honeyeaters Feeding on flowering trees and shrubs Feeding/young Feeding Nesting Foraging Foraging Foraging Territorial Breeding Nesting/young Raising young Feeding young Breeding
Fairy-wrens & Thornbills Small birds in shrubs and undergrowth Young Foraging Pairing/nesting Nesting Foraging Foraging Courtship Nest building Eggs/chicks Raising young Fledging Family groups
Eagles Soaring over forests and coast Nest building Eggs Incubation Chicks Raising young Hunting young Juveniles hunt Territorial Territorial Foraging Nest building Nest building
Gulls & Seabirds Coastal feeding and nesting Fledging Juveniles Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting Eggs Incubation Chicks Fledging

 

🐾 Mammals (marsupial, monotreme) — Breeding, young & seasonal activity

Wildlife What to look for Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Platypus Quietly watch waterways at dawn and dusk Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Active Active Active Breeding preparation Breeding Territories Young Foraging
Echidna Foraging through leaf litter and bushland Foraging Foraging Active Foraging Reduced Winter Winter Breeding Mating Feeding Foraging Foraging
Pademelon / Wallaby Forest edges at dawn and dusk Active/young Young Foraging Foraging Foraging Winter foraging Foraging Breeding Young Young Active Active
Wombat Tracks, burrows and evening activity Foraging Foraging Foraging Active Foraging Winter Winter Foraging Young Foraging Foraging Active
Possums Nocturnal movement in trees and gardens Mating Joeys Joeys on back Young Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating Mating Mating Joeys
Bandicoots Small conical foraging holes Mating Joeys Leaving pouch Young forage Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating Mating Mating Young Young
Eastern Quoll Nocturnal activity around dusk Mating Gestation Pouch young Young developing Foraging Foraging Winter Mating Mating Young Young Young
Tasmanian Devil Tracks, dens and nocturnal activity Young independent Dispersing Foraging Foraging Mating preparation Mating Mating Young developing Den Young emerge Young independent Foraging
Bats Flying after dark around trees and water Breeding Young Juveniles fly Foraging Foraging Reduced Reduced Increasing Mating Breeding Breeding Young

 

🦎 Reptiles — Emergence, basking & breeding

Wildlife What to look for Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Blue-tongue Skink Basking on warm mornings Active Active Mating Young Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating Mating
Tasmanian Tree Skink Basking on logs and sunny surfaces Active Active Breeding Feeding Reduced Low activity Low activity Emerging Feeding Breeding Active Active
Metallic & Agile Cool-skinks Small skinks in sunny bushland Active Active Mating Feeding Reduced Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating Mating
Snakes Basking and increased spring movement Active Active Mating Eggs/young Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating Mating

 

🐸 Frogs amphibians & freshwater crustaceans — Rain, calling & breeding

Wildlife What to look for Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Tasmanian Froglet Listen around wet areas after rain Breeding/eggs Tadpoles Metamorphosis Moisture dependent Reduced Reduced Reduced Breeding after rain Tadpoles Metamorphosis Weather dependent Possible breeding
Eastern Froglet Small frogs calling around ponds Breeding/eggs Tadpoles Metamorphosis Active if wet Reduced Reduced Reduced Breeding after rain Tadpoles Metamorphosis Calling after rain Possible breeding
Eastern Banjo Frog Deep calls around wetlands Breeding/calling Tadpoles Metamorphosis Wet-weather activity Reduced Reduced Reduced Breeding after rain Tadpoles Metamorphosis Calling Possible breeding
Southern Brown Tree Frog Calling after rain around vegetation Breeding Eggs/tadpoles Tadpoles Wet-weather activity Reduced Reduced Reduced Breeding after rain Eggs/tadpoles Young Calling Breeding
Freshwater Crayfish Aquatic activity in streams and waterways Feeding Active Foraging/mating Reproductive Reduced Reduced Reduced Increasing Foraging Foraging Reproductive Reproductive

 

🐝 Insects & pollinators — Seasonal activity

Wildlife What to look for Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Native Bees Bees visiting flowering native plants Foraging Foraging Foraging Declining activity Reduced Reduced Emerging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging
Crickets Evening calling in warmer weather Calling/mating Calling/mating Eggs Feeding/calling Feeding Dormant Dormant Increasing Calling Eggs Calling/mating Calling/mating

 

 

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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