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Written by Phil & Sue Gregory
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Black Mountain Road
One of the great birding roads, in rainforest habitat, close to Kuranda, with a good chance of Cassowary, plus Red-necked Crake, Wompoo and Superb Fruit-Doves, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Barred Cuckoo-shrike, Lovely Fairywren, White-eared, Spectacled, Black-faced and Pied monarchs, Yellow-breasted Boatbill, Chowchilla, Victoria's Riflebird and Spotted Catbird and many more.
Kuranda Township
Just a leisurely walk around Kuranda township can offer a good birding experience. The huge fig trees along the main street are often an excellent place to see Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, a variety of Lorikeets and the ever present Figbirds. There is an excellent walking trail around the town. Start at the train station where Kookaburras are often seen and walk along the river looking for Pacific Black Duck, Hardheads, a variety of cormorants and if you are lucky a Baza, Osprey or Brahminy Kite. Azure Kingfishers are often seen around the area where Jum Rum Creek enters the Barron and a freshwater crocodile can also often be seen from here sunning himself on the opposite bank. Continue up through the forest where it is possible to see Wompoo Pigeons, Black Butcherbirds and in summer even the Buff-breasted Paradise Kingfisher, to end up by Batreach- the Bat Rehabilitation centre.
Barron Falls Lookout
A network of walking trails leads you down to a series of lookouts over the Barron Falls. Cut through rainforest they offer the birder another chance of rainforest species. Watch out for White-throated Needletails that follow the storm fronts at the start of the rains.
Davies Creek National Park
This popular picnic spot is both scenic and worth a visit by birdwatchers with riparian forest and dry country birds. For the more active and fit birder there is an strenuous hike up to Kahlpalim Rock which offers extensive views across the local area and which passes through some excellent mixed eucalyptus forest. The highlight of this hike for many would be the bowers of the Golden Bowerbird which can be seen right alongside the track towards the summit.
Tinaroo Creek Road
Driving the length of this road near Mareeba gives a good chance of Squatter Pigeon, Pale-headed Rosella, Yellow Honeyeater, Brown Tree-creeper, Great Bowerbird and perhaps Black-throated Finch. Sometimes has Black Bittern in the wet, and Sarus Crane in the winter months.
Emerald Creek Falls
Riparian forest and wet-sclerophyll, good for Pale-headed Rosella, honeyeaters including Bridled (in winter), Yellow and White-naped, White-browed Robin, Weebill and a chance of Rufous Owl.
Mareeba Wetlands
A great site for dry country species such as Squatter Pigeon, Brown Tree-creeper, Lemon-bellied Flycatcher, Weebill, Grey-crowned Babbler, and Black-throated Finch. The lagoons can hold Brolga and both pygmy-geese, Comb-crested Jacana and a variety of ducks. Wedge-tailed Eagle is regular.
Cairns Esplanade
Home to large flocks of waders this is a priority for all serious birders. A pleasant walk can be taken from the mangroves at the northern end where Mangrove Robin and Collared Kingfisher can often be found, along the edge of the mudflats to the pier in the south. Amongst others expect to see Greater and Lesser Sandplover, Great Knot, Grey-tailed Tattler,Terek Sandpiper, Red-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Eastern Curlew and Eurasian Whimbrel, Black Bar-tailed Godwits, Australian Pelicans, small numbers of many of these are present during the austral winter. The trees along the walkway are often good for Double-eyed Fig-Parrots and Varied Honeyeater. Both Beach and Bush Stone Curlews can sometimes be seen here on the grass, particularly at night.
Centenary Lakes and the Botanic Gardens
A pleasant time can be spent wandering through the gardens and around the lakes. Orange-footed Scrubfowl, Magpie Goose, Black Bittern (summer), White-browed Crake, Papuan Frogmouth, Pied Imperial Pigeon (summer), Collared and perhaps Little Kingfisher, Lovely Fairywrens, Brown-backed Honeyeater and Yellow Oriole are all possibilities.
Yorkeys Knob
The pond at the northern end of Wattle Street is a great little birding spot and well worth checking out. Green Pygmy Geese, Plumed and Wandering Whistling Ducks are on the pond while Australian Darters, Yellow Oriole, Leaden Flycatcher, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Yellow-bellied Sunbirds can be seen in the fringing eucalypts, Crimson Finch, Mannikins and Australian Pipits are often in the grass nearby
Redden Island
At the mouth of the Barron River this is another good area for shorebirds. Check the river banks for Beach Stone Curlew and a chance of Great-billed Heron and the sand spit for the same species as on the Esplanade. The terns can include both Lesser-crested, Crested and Little Terns.
Michaelmas Cay
A great place to snorkel and also to see the seabird breeding colony. Brown and perhaps Black Noddies, Crested, Lesser Crested and Little Terns and occasionally Black-naped and Roseate plus the chance of both Lesser and Greater Frigate-bird.
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Cairns/Kuranda Birding 
