All the event, location and ticketing information for the 2025 Toowoomba Birding Festival.
<<< CLICK HERE for a full account of all the events that happened on Day One >>>
From the rainforest and wet sclerophyll of the escarpment to the vine thickets and grassy woodlands of the Darling Downs – Toowoomba is a birding hot spot with over 300 species recorded here.
Birdlife Southern Queensland Darling Downs local branch and the Toowoomba Bird Observers Club are proud to invite you to the inaugural Toowoomba Birding Festival, from September 13th to 27th 2025. The festival is run in conjunction with the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
The festival features guided bird walks, talks on birds at the Queensland Museum Cobb+Co, special activities for kids, and a rolling slide show of stunning Australian bird photos by local photographers on the Darling Downs.
Click one of the links below or scroll down for the full details. Every event is free but does require bookings because spaces are limited. Remember to BYO binoculars.
Guided Bird Walk at Duggan Park – Saturday September 13th, 8am
Talk on Toowoomba Birds and the Festival – Cobb+Co Museum – Saturday September 13th, 1pm
Guided Bird Walk at Lions Park – Hodgson Vale – Sunday 21st of September, 8am
“Did You Spot It” – Children’s puppet show about birds – Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat – Sunday 21st of September, 9:30am
Guided Bird Walk for Children – Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat – Sunday 21st of September, 10am
Talk “How to Attract Birds to Your Garden” – Cobb+Co Musuem – Sunday 21st of September, 1pm
Guided Bird Walk at Loveday Cove – Cooby Dam – Saturday 27th of September, 8am
Talk “Birds on Farms” and “Photographing Birds” – Cobb+Co Museum – Saturday the 27th of September, 1pm
Rolling slide show of bird photos, from Darling Downs photographers – this will run for the length of the festival at Queensland Museum, Cobb+Co
8am – Guided bird walk at Duggan Park
This escarpment park features 8 hectares of bushland with great views and birds, and very accessible walking tracks. Over 120 species have been recorded here. View the birdata entry for an idea of what you may see. Tour guides: Roger Jaensch and Mick Atzeni
Location: Meet at picnic area at Duggan Park, just off Leslie Street, Rangeville. Meet at 7:50am for an 8:00am start.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 30 people. Depending on numbers we will most likely split into two groups. It is essential to reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Note all children are to be supervised by parents or guardians. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system. Remember to BYO binoculars.
1pm – Introduction to the birding festival and birds of the Toowoomba Region – talk at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co
This talk by Scot McPhie and Mick Atzeni will give an overview of the activities in the festival and the birds of the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region.
Location: Meet at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co, 27 Lindsay Street, Toowoomba
Duration: 1 hour
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 80 people so please reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Please note admission to the talk, and museum cafe is free. But admission to the other display galleries in the museum is paid, unless you are a Toowoomba Regional Council resident. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system.
8am – Guided bird walk at Lions Park, Hodgson Vale
This park features a gentle walk along side a riparian habitat with over 70 species recorded there. View the birdata entry for an idea of what you may see. Tour guides: Roger Jaensch and Mick Atzeni
Location: Meet at the car park, at the Lions Park, Hodgson Vale. Meet at 7:50am for an 8:00am start.
Duration: 1.5 hours
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 30 people. Depending on numbers we will most likely split into two groups. It is essential to reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Note all children are to be supervised by parents or guardians. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system. Remember to BYO binoculars.
9:30am – “Did You Spot It?” – Children’s puppet show about birds
Aimed at children aged 5 to 12, this show will inspire young explorers to notice and enjoy the amazing world of birds wherever they are.
Location: Meet at the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat, Mackenzie Street, Toowoomba (look for the marquee where the show will be held)
Duration: Half an hour (note an optional free tour for children of the waterbird habitat immediately follows. Please reserve tickets separately for this).
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 40 children so please reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Adults do not require tickets but must be present to supervise their children. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system.
10am – Guided Birdwalk for Children – at the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat
This walk is designed especially for children, with a large amount of readily seen birds at the Waterbird Habitat. Over 120 species have been recorded here. View the birdata entry for an idea of what you may see. Note BYO binoculars. Tour guide: Scot McPhie
Location: Meet at the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat, Mackenzie Street, Toowoomba
Duration: Forty-five minutes
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 30 children, so please book a place in our ticketing system. Parents or guardians are required to supervise their children. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system. Remember to BYO binoculars.
1pm – How to Attract Birds to Your Garden – talk at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co
This talk by Scot McPhie will give great tips and examples of how to have a more bird friendly garden.
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Meet at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co, 27 Lindsay Street, Toowoomba
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 80 people so please reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Please note admission to the talk, and museum cafe is free. But admission to the other display galleries in the museum is paid, unless you are a Toowoomba Regional Council resident. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system.
8am – Guided bird walk at Cooby Dam
Located just 24 kilometres north of Toowoomba, Cooby Dam is a birding hotspot with over 190 species recorded in the Loveday Cove area. View the birdata entry for an idea of what you may see. Tour guides: Roger Jaensch and Mick Atzeni
Location: Meet at the eastern part of the picnic area at Loveday Cove, Cooby Dam. (Do not go to the dam wall picnic area!). Meet at 7:50am for an 8:00am start
Duration: 90 minutes
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 30 people. Depending on numbers we will most likely split into two groups. It is essential to reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Note all children are to be supervised by parents or guardians. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system. Remember to BYO binoculars.
1pm – The Lockyer-Toowoomba Birds on Farms Project, and Bird Photography – two talks at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co
Scot McPhie, the co-ordinator of Birdlife Australia’s Lockyer-Toowomba Birds on Farms Project, discusses the project, its conservation aims and current status.
Mitchell Roberts discusses bird photography, including examples from his recent trip to Antarctica.
Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Location: Meet at Queensland Museum Cobb + Co, 27 Lindsay Street, Toowoomba
Tickets: This is a free event but is limited to 90 people so please reserve a spot via our ticketing system. Please note admission to the talk, and museum cafe is free. But admission to the other display galleries in the museum is paid, unless you are a Toowoomba Regional Council resident. In the event of wet weather or the need to reschedule the activity, participants will be contacted through the email address they provided in the ticketing system.
The inaugural Toowoomba Birding Festival is part of the 2025 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, and is supported by Birdlife Australia, the Toowoomba Bird Observers Club, the Queensland Museum Cobb + Co and the Darling Downs Environment Council.
