Wildlife Calendar

Burnie is a nature lover’s paradise, home to some of Tasmania’s most iconic wildlife.

This wildlife calendar highlights the best times of the year to see these remarkable animals in their natural habitats—there’s something magical to discover in every season.

Learn when little penguins waddle ashore to to tend to their chicks, when platypus are best seen foraging along the water’s edge of creeks, and when wallabies and their joeys are most visible in the open bushland. Keep an eye out for echidnas foraging for ants and enjoy the melodic calls of wattlebirds and kookaburras echoing through the trees.

Species January February March April May June July August September October November December
Penguins Chicks fledge, moulting Adult moult, feeding Feeding, pre-moult prep Moulting begins Moulting Resting, feeding at sea Feeding, pre-breeding prep Returning to burrows Courtship, egg laying begins Egg incubation, chick hatching Chick rearing Chicks growing, pre-fledge
Native Hens Chicks hatch Juveniles learning to forage Adults nesting Nesting continues Foraging Foraging Foraging Nest-building begins Nesting, laying eggs Chicks hatch Chicks foraging Chicks fledging
Kookaburra Chicks fledging Juveniles fledging Nest-building Nest-building Nesting ends Territorial calls begin Territorial calls intensify Nest-building Egg laying begins Incubating eggs Raising chicks Chicks fledging
Wattlebird Breeding, raising chicks Raising chicks Foraging, nesting Foraging Foraging Foraging Territorial calls intensify Nesting, breeding Raising chicks Raising chicks Raising chicks Breeding resumes
Plovers Nesting and laying eggs Incubation and chicks hatch Chicks learning to forage Juveniles independent Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting and laying eggs Incubation and chicks hatch Chicks learning to forage Juveniles independent Foraging
Swift Parrots Breeding, raising chicks Chicks learning to forage Foraging and dispersal Foraging and migration Migrating north Resting in migration areas Resting in migration areas Returning south Nesting begins Egg laying, incubation Raising chicks Raising chicks
Eagles Nest building Nesting, egg laying Incubating eggs Chicks hatch Raising young Juveniles learning to hunt Juveniles hunting Territorial activity Territorial activity Foraging Nest building Nest building
Gulls Chicks fledging Juveniles foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Nesting begins Egg laying Incubating eggs Chicks hatch Chicks fledging
Bats Breeding season Raising pups Juveniles flying Foraging Foraging Resting and foraging Resting and foraging Resting and foraging Mating begins Breeding season Breeding season Pups raised
Possums Mating season Joeys in pouch Joeys on back Foraging with young Foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Mating season Joeys raised
Blue-tongue Skink Active, basking Active, basking Mating season Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating season Mating season
Snakes Active, basking Active, basking Mating season Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Feeding Feeding Mating season Mating season
Freshwater Lobster Active, foraging Active, foraging Foraging, mating Egg laying Dormant Dormant Dormant Emerging Foraging Foraging Egg laying Egg laying
Bandicoot Mating season Joeys in pouch Joeys leaving pouch Joeys foraging Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Mating season Raising young Raising young
Quolls Mating season Gestation Joeys in pouch Joeys leaving pouch Foraging Foraging Foraging Mating season Mating season Raising young Raising young
Tree Frog Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry)
Grass Frog Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Dormant (if conditions dry) Breeding, laying eggs Tadpoles in water Tadpoles morphing into frogs Dormant (if conditions dry)
Crickets Calling and mating Calling and mating Egg laying Feeding and calling Feeding Dormant (winter months) Dormant (winter months) Feeding and calling Feeding and calling Egg laying Calling and mating Calling and mating
Bees Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Dormant (if cold) Dormant (if cold) Dormant (if cold) Emerging and foraging Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar Foraging for nectar
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