Australia is one of the most exciting birding destinations in the world. Many species are descended from ancient Gondwanan stock, eg the Ratites ~ Emu and Cassowary, and the Megapodes (mound builders) ~ Brush-turkey, Malleefowl, Orange-footed Scrubfowl. 

Others have evolved in a 30 million year isolation while the continent drifted northward after breaking from the remnants of Gondwanaland. 

Some (eg birds of paradise and bowerbirds) invaded from New Guinea and islands to the north as the continent neared the Asiatic tectonic plate when sea levels fell. 

Many species have adapted to the harsh, arid inland deserts, becoming specialists and nomads taking advantage of rare bountiful seasons wherever they occur. Others have evolved as endemics in the eastern rainforests.

Australia has ~

• About 750 species ~ almost half are endemic, several families are endemic
• 55 species of cockatoos and parrots ~ Australia is known as "The Land of Parrots"
• Many spectacular species, including a number of passerines 
• 8 bowerbirds, 4 birds of paradise 
• 2 Ratites ~ Emu and Cassowary, standing 2 metres tall ~ among the largest birds in the world
• 3 species of Megapodes ~ mound builders which hatch their eggs in mounds of sand or earth and decaying vegetation
• 2 lyrebirds, 2 scrub-birds ~ relicts from ancient Gondwanaland
• A wealth of seabirds ~ species which breed in the subantarctic and Antarctic move north into Australian waters in winter 
• Important "wintering" grounds for about 30 species of Asiatic shorebirds (waders) which breed in, or close to, the Arctic region and migrate thousands of kilometres southward to escape the northern winter
• New Guinea migrants ~ many winter in New Guinea and islands to the north of Australia, returning to the Australian mainland to breed
• Specialist rainforest species, some shared with New Guinea

Australia is a prime birding destination

• Politically-stable, multicultural, modern western nation
• Superb facilities throughout much of the country ~ an efficient network of roads, rail and air transport
• Bird in safety without fear of attack from large wild animals

Good birding!