Heron Island is a protected habitat for a stunning variety of wildlife. An amazing array of animal life can be discovered throughout the year. You soon sense that you are very much a guest of the natural environment, you're here to be part of it, to enjoy it and to learn from it.
Click the various months below to see who is dropping in.
January
January is the peak breeding season for sea birds, so they are very active this time of year. Up to 100,000 can be on the island, particularly Black Noddy Terns, Wedgetailed Shearwater (Mutton Birds) and Eastern Reef Egrets. Female turtles are laying eggs and turtle hatchlings can be seen making their way to the sea.
February
Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Mutton Bird) chicks hatching in February. The island birdlife remains active with up to approximately 100,000 birds on the island. Female turtles are still laying eggs and hatchlings continue to emerge from their nests.
March
Some birds show breeding plumage during Marhc as they return to their Arctic nesting grounds. Birds still nesting including the Buff-banded Rail and the Black Noddy Tern. Female turtles are at the end of the nesting season.
April
Young Wedgetailed Shearwater birds (Puffinus pacificus) leave their burrows and adult Shearwaters begin to leave the island.
May
The last of the turtle hatchlings can be seen emerging from their nests. Young Wedgetailed Shearwaters are still learning to fly in preparation to leave the island by the end of the month.
June
Humpback Whales' northern migration begins in June. They are often seen passing through waters around the Island. An average Humpback weighs 40 tonnes and measures 16 metres.
July
Humpback Whales are frequently sighted in the Capricornia Bunker region in July. Eastern Reef Egrets start building their nests.
August
August is warming up to spring. There is more general activity on the reef and the island. Towards the end of the month, the Black Noddies begin returning. Good Humpback Whale sightings.
September
Humpback Whales are active during September, breaching regularly. Black Noddies are now returning to the island and will commence building their nest. Northern Hemisphere migratory birds, such as Ruddy Turnstones and Eastern Golden Plovers arrive back on the island.
October
Whales begin heading south to the Antarctic with their calves. Black Noddies and Silver Eyes are nesting,.Wedgetailed Shearwaters are returning to the island. Turtle mating may be observed in the surrounding waters.
November
Turtle egg laying begins in November. Wedgetailed Shearwaters can be seen digging and repairing nesting burrows at night. Black Noddy Tern eggs can be seen in the nest. The annual synchronised mass spawning of corals usually occurs during this month.
December
Bird life is extremely active in December with approximately 100,000 birds on the island. Numerous black Noddy chicks can be seen and Wedgetailed Shearwaters are laying eggs and hatchlings begin emerging from the sand. Coral spawning may occur if this did not occur in November.
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