15 Day Eyre Creek / Eastern Simpson
Desert Ornithological Trek
A Dune & Waterhole
Trek, especially tailored for all birdwatchers
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On the 2008 Archaeological Expedition,
which visited areas of Eyre Creek, Simpson Desert dunefields, gibber plains and small salt
creeks, we recorded 79 bird species. Due to the
extensive flooding along Eyre Creek and the subsequent logistical challenges in getting to
& from the camel string, the trek will now take place in western Queensland, and will
follow sections of the creek visiting waterholes as well as diverging into the surrounding
dunefields.
Huge summer rains have replenished the
waterholes along the creek and will bring renewed life to the area. Even without local
rain, this trek presents a marvellous opportunity to conduct a detailed survey of this
part of the desert. Importantly, the trek will also be accompanied by a botanist who will
take advantage of the heavy 2008 rains and floods of this year, to make a selected
specimen collection.
This trek is not purely a birdo
experience, as all of our treks allow you to fully participate in helping the cameleers to
operate the trek. Indeed, the crew will require your help! You will learn how a team of
disciplined packcamels are handled and how our camels are the living
link to the exploration of the inland in the 19th Century. Parts of the country we
intend to traverse will be overlapping Charles Sturt's 1844
explorations, so this trek contains the significant historical element of 'following'
parts of his journey.
We have found that travelling on foot,
supported by packcamels, allows us to almost completely blend in with the local wildlife.
Birds are used to camels and appear to largely ignore the human element of the trek.
Needless to say, walking the desert also allows the special discoveries and unique
perspective of all the other desert life that is to be found in this area.
Binoculars at the ready, prepare yourself for eleven days of desert exploration!
The trek will be accompanied by Anthony
Molyneaux and Brian Blaylock. Anthony has spent the last 10 years living in Central
Australia conducting birdwatching surveys with a special interest in Raptors, working as
an animal trainer at the Alice Springs Desert Park. He holds an 'A' Class bird bander
licence under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. Brian is current secretary of
BirdsSA, and a volunteer with the Birds Section of the South Australian Museum.
Grade: Moderate
Departure Date: July 8 to July 22 2009 - trek completed
Maximum group size: 12 - this departure is fully booked
Itinerary: 2 day road transfer, 11 days with the camels, 2 day return road transfer
Further information
Pick up point: Adelaide
Set down point: Adelaide
Price: AUD$4993
If you are interested in
this trek but the dates don't fit your plans, there are shorter treks operated by the Outback Camel Company in May and July in both the western
and eastern Simpson Desert. Click here
for further details.
back to
2009 Itinerary summary
Floods in the desert!
The Georgina River in flood, January 2009.
North Central Queensland has had very heavy rain in late December and January, and this
water is currently moving south through the Channel Country and flowing into Lake Eyre.
Much of the country that we trekked across in 2008 is now under water and these floods
will make an enormous difference to our 2009 trekking season. All the waterholes on Eyre
Creek will now be full and the accompanying extensive birdlife and rejuvenation to the
country will be astounding.
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Captain Charles Sturt
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