Council
12 March, 2025
Birdwatching boost for Esk
CARE4ESK is calling on Somerset Council to invest more in ‘avitourism’ (birdwatching tourism), after the sighting of a single bird attracted over 100 birdwatchers to the area.
Esk local and Care4esK member of several years, Helen Procter-Brown, spotted and photographed a Black-eared Cuckoo on the fire trail at the base of Mount Glen Rock at the start of February, the first ever recorded in the Somerset region according to a research app called eBird, developed by Cornell University.
After uploading the image of her finding to the app’s database, birdwatchers from around southeast Queensland (SEQ) flocked to Esk over the next four weeks, hoping to catch a sight of the rare bird.
This has resulted in Helen, along with Care4esK, calling on Somerset Council to more seriously consider birdwatching as a drawcard for tourists, emphasising the importance of tourism that does not disturb local habitat.
“This highlights the importance of maintaining as much natural environment as we can,” she said.
“Birdwatching has changed over the past 10 years and grown so much in popularity.
“These visitors come to town and they get coffee and bring business.”
Care4esK president, Darren Bate, said he saw people on the trail every day looking for the bird, with some coming as far as Maleny and Toowoomba, including a couple who came from Brisbane wanting to stay the night, but drove back due to lack of accommodation.
“We’ve always said nature-based tourism is a really big thing and to do that you need to keep nature and promote the activity, such as birdwatching or nature photography,” he said.
“You don’t have to build something for people to enjoy nature. They already have the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail for bikes, so it’s important to promote other activities along this area that don’t require loss or disturbance of habitat.”
According to a 2022 report by Dr Rochelle Steve for BirdLife Australia called ‘Bird and Nature Tourism in Australia’, birdwatchers spent over $280 million in day and overnight trips across Australia in 2019, with Queensland receiving the second highest average number of overnight visitors in 2019/20 (70,000), falling just behind New South Wales.
“National data reveals that birdwatching tourists spend more than other types of tourists in Australia and with dedicated marketing and investment the birdwatching tourism market has huge potential to grow,” the report said.
“Economic benefits have been received with negligible government support for marketing of birdwatching as a specific tourism activity to domestic and overseas markets.
“Investment in the sector and elevating its profile among tourism campaigns could yield significant benefits to the Australian economy, especially in regional destinations where the bulk of intact bird habitats are found.”
Somerset Mayor, Jason Wendt, said Council is aware birdwatching “has and always will be a big tourism attraction for Somerset,” with it being promoted through the ‘Experience Somerset Visitor Guide’, and the ‘Bird Places of Somerset Brochure’, which is distributed through the region’s tourism operators.
The bird brochure, however, is designed as a guide for bird watchers, not as promotional material to bring bird watchers to the region.
According to Cr Wendt, the Somerset Tourism Strategy 2021-2025 also notes bird watching as one of the region’s key offerings, amongst other nature-based attractions.
“Council has supported eco-tourism for some time, recognising it as a huge opportunity for Somerset,” he said.
“We have invested significantly into eco-tourism projects, including the development of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.
“We’re always looking at ways to improve our publications and will seek to incorporate feedback from the community in any future revisions (of the brochure).”
In December 2024, Somerset Council secured grant funding through the Australian Government for the Mount Glen Rock Hiking Trails project, which will create 6km of hiking trails, interpretive signage, and a scenic lookout, with completion expected by 30 June 2027.
“The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail and the upcoming Mount Glen Rock Hiking Trails project will provide opportunities to attract bird watchers, nature photographers and butterfly watchers to Somerset,” Cr Wendt said.
