Mungalla has long been famous for its bird life, both permanent residents and migratory visitors. During the occupation by the Cassady family, Mungalla was declared a wildlife reserve and shooting was not allowed on the property.  As of August 2024, 230 different species had been recorded, including more than 80 waterbird species.
Mungalla is an ebird Australia hotspot – http://ebird.org/ebird/australia/hotspot/L2560929

 

Sought-after birds include migrants such as the Barn Swallow (perched on wires near the homestead in some years), Eastern Yellow Wagtail (most years), Oriental Plover, Oriental Pratincole and Little Curlew, all of which can appear from late October into the early wet season.  Spotted Whistling-Ducks were first seen in 2018 and are now a breeding resident.  A Painted Snipe stayed for more than a month in 2020.
On the grassy plains, Australian Bustards are resident, and Brolgas and Australian Pratincoles are present in the dry season from July-December.  Red-backed and occasionally Red-chested Button-quails burst from cover in these areas.
Crimson Finches live in the camping ground area and nest in some of the buildings, while White-browed Crakes are common in the nearby creek (but don’t get too close to the bank, stay behind the fence!).
Bush birds include dry tropical species such as White-browed Robin, Rufous-throated and White-gaped Honeyeaters, Northern Fantail and Lemon-bellied Flycatcher alongside wet tropics endemics such as Macleay’s, Cryptic (Graceful) and Yellow-spotted Honeyeaters.
There are always many birds to see, but the best time is in the dry season, September to December, when the wetland species become more concentrated. Large numbers of spoonbills, egrets, ibis, Magpie Geese, pygmy-geese, ducks and migratory shorebirds such as Latham’s Snipe and Sharp-tailed, Marsh and Wood Sandpipers can be seen as the wetlands dry and contract. Black-necked Storks (Jabirus) and White-bellied Sea-Eagles breed on the property and many species of raptors can be seen hunting over the paddocks and wetlands.  Barking, Rufous, Grass and Barn Owls inhabit the forests, grasslands and buildings.
Our photo gallery shows a number of birds photographed at Mungalla, thanks to Tony Ashton, Ian Boyd, Richard Wallace and others.