Christmas Island's Inaugural Bird Week set to take-off

From 1- 7 September, 2006, one of Australia's most spectacular tropical islands will host it's first-ever Bird Week.

Participants in the inaugural Christmas Island Bird Week will join a team of expert scientists on a series of never-before offered field trips.

"These will include the opportunity to catch an Abbott's Booby high in the rainforest canopy, monitor Brown Boobies on the island's rocky coast, and learn first-hand the nesting biology of the Red-tailed Tropicbird," explained Linda Cash, event coordinator.

"Participants will also be treated to nightly seminars, seabird identification workshops and the chance to see the island's other extraordinary wildlife, including at least 35 species found nowhere else on earth - more than any other Australian protected area," added Ms Cash.

The inaugural Christmas Island Bird Week coincides with Australia's Threatened Species Day (September 7) and will also highlight the island's six threatened species of birds.

These include the rare Christmas Island Frigatebird, a specimen of which, in December 2005, stunned scientists, by making an epic 4000km, 26-day flight over the ocean, never touching down, and sleeping on the wing by gliding on thermal updraughts.

Despite only being announced publicly today, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be among the first to discover this ornithological Garden of Eden has already raised interest from as far a field as Canada and Singapore.

STOP PRESS: Seven-night all-inclusive packages (flights (ex-Perth), accommodation, meals, 4-wheel drive hire) from $2185 per person plus taxes (conditions apply). For details, call: 08 9164 7475. Detailed Bird Week itinerary available at: www.christmas.net.au