Featherdale Day Out

Featherdale Wildlife Park, located in Sydney, has been a significant drawcard for locals and tourists alike ever since it first opened its doors back in 1972. It's the perfect place for both locals and overseas visitors wanting to experience something of Australia's vast and unique fauna all in the one location - without having to travel any further than Doonside, a suburb in Western Sydney.

Kookaburra relaxing in Featherdale's Lorikeet walkthrough aviary (Natalie Hitchens)

We've visited Featherdale several times over the years - last time was just after COVID in 2022. Superficially, I don't think it has changed much over the years - although as a keen bird watcher I was a bit frustrated by some of the labelling offered for each exhibit. Clearly the pictorial nameplates are not printed on archival paper because most have faded to a barely readable monochrome label making it hard to identify some of the species in their enclosures. But you can always find a member of staff who can answer questions for you. There's a lot to see at Featherdale - you could easily spend a whole day exploring the park.

Black-necked stork, a Hooded Parrot and a Red-whiskered Bulbul.

Last time we visited the park we did get to see one of our favourite Aussie marsupial, a quoll. This was quite a sighting because quolls are generally nocturnal. On this visit we got even better views of a young female Spotted Quoll who was busy exploring her enclosure.

Australian dingo - Featherdale has two of these amazing native predators, both of whom were busy howling, at something - it wasn't clear why they were so vociferous! (Natalie Hitchens)

Finches are probably the hardest birds to catch with a camera because they are generally very active - and when there are several other species flitting about in the same enclosure snapping one is quite the challenge. Star Finch, Diamond Firetail and Zebra Finch.

One of Australia's rarest and most spectacular finches is this Gouldian Finch, of which there are several at Featherdale. The two resting on the base of the cage are Long-tailed Finches.

Close up of the plumage of a Paradise Shelduck

Hooded Parrot giving itself a spring-clean (Natalie Hitchens)

Male Superb Fruit dove close up

This is the Torresian Imperial Pigeon a very elegant bird. (Natalie Hitchens)

I think this is a brown buzzard - but the sign was too far gone to confirm this

Close up of a male King Parrot

Featherdale has a good pelican display, plus penguins and even a brolga enclosure.

An echidna, pademelon under pressure to perform for the cameras and a lone pademelon, away from the crowds.

Spinifex pigeon

Chinese Golden Pheasant

Easy to miss because of its appearance and tendency to remain absolutely motionless, this is a tawny frogmouth, a small bird that uses cryptic plumage to remain invisible to its prey - typically insects Frogmouths are different from owls as the former prefers to catch its food in its beak whereas owls catch their prey in their powerful claws.