With a shape like a Scottie dog, Christmas Island lies in the Indian Ocean some 2,600km northwest of Perth, Western Australia. An Australian Territory, its nearest neighbour is Java, Indonesia about 360km away.

Christmas Island has 63% (over 85 sq. km.) of its area declared as national park and holds many species of endemic flora & fauna!

Christmas Island Frigatebird. Photo Geoff Jones, Barra Imaging.

From a birding perspective the island is home to a number of endemic species and sub-species including probably one of the most beautiful birds in the world known here as Golden Bosunbird. This race of White-tailed Tropicbird is found only on the island and fortunately is visible everywhere. Red-tailed Tropicbird or Silver Bosun to give its local name is also here and can be seen from the gardens of a favourite café on the north shore.

Particularly important from a seabird perspective, as indeed are most islands around the world, Christmas Island is the only home of the unique and endangered Abbott’s Booby, which nests in the tall emergent trees of the western and southern plateau rainforest. This forest is the only remaining nesting habitat&hellip Read more

Probable Chinese Pond Heron
Monday, March 14th, 2011

Christmas Island
Monday, September 6th, 2010

Birding Australia’s External Island Territories
Thursday, May 20th, 2010