Excepts from Discovering Cooloola - a complete guide & map
by John Sinclair 1978
Dominated as it is by such a huge biomass, it is to be expected that Cooloola would have a wealth of fauna. However, although there is a great variety, the populations are relatively sparse. This is partly because Australia is not well populated with placental animals and also because of the relatively low protein level. This is compounded by the fact that most of wildlife is very timid and a great number are nocturnal. However, the quiet and patient observer will be amply rewarded for his effort by discovering the great variety of Cooloola's fauna, which is almost as diverse as the vegetation.
- Emus - some of the last remaining populations of coastal emus in Queensland and are characterised by a darker plumage. They sometimes take a swim.
- Grey Kangaroo - Macropus giganteus - is limited mainly to the western catchment and Noosa Plain.
- Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor - found on the sand dunes.
- Birds: 300 species have been recorded.
- Wading Birds - Tin Can Bay being an extension of Great Sandy Strait, is an important stopover on the flyways of Australia's migratory wading birds. Each Autumn these fly north to Siberia where they briefly exchange the drab brown, almost uniform, colours that we associate with them in Australia for brighter breeding plumage. Before they begin their long flight back to Australia they have shed this again. They arrive back in October and early November. Two different flyways appear to converge on Tin Can Bay, making it a vital area for migratory birds.
- Yellow-Bellied Glider from South-east Queensland in the western catchment, near the Como Scarp.
- Australian Bass - outstanding habitat in the pristine waters of the Noosa River, which is now protected within the Cooloola National Park.
- 5 species of 'acid frogs' have been found in the unusually acid water of the swamps and lakes of Cooloola area.
- Four-fingered Skink - few recorded sightings
- Tiger Snake - reaches its northern limit in Cooloola.
- Taipans, Death Adders and Brown Snakes - are rarely seen unless they are sought.
- Dugong - large numbers of this endangered species can be found grazing on the rich sea grass beds of Tin Can Bay.
- Platypus - seen as it plays and feeds in the dark tea-coloured waters of the Upper Noosa River
Land Bird list observed in Cooloola:
Birds of Cooloola, Waterways, Estuaries and Beach that have been observed in Cooloola:
