Birds of Boigu, Saibai and Dauan Islands (Torres Strait)
The Birds of Boigu, Saibai and Dauan Islands (the Top Western group of Torres Strait), are of particular interest to Australian birders because the islands are home to, and visited by, birds which are essentially New Guinea species not found, or only occasionally seen as vagrants, elsewhere on Australian territory. The islands lie only a few kilometres from the mainland of New Guinea, though they are politically part of the state of Queensland, Australia.
Access to these islands is not easy. Permission to visit is required from the island councils. The few birders who visit, do so on pre-organised trips by chartered yacht or, occasionally, on day-trips by chartered light aircraft. Saibai and Boigu have airstrips.
List of birds
The following list is annotated with initials indicating which species have been recorded on the three islands. Because these islands have not been thoroughly surveyed or regularly monitored by birders, it is very likely that the list underestimates the number of species breeding on or visiting them.
Clarke, Rohan H. (2004). The avifauna of northern Torres Strait: notes on a wet season visit. Australian Field Ornithology21: 49-66.
Clarke, Rohan H. (2006). Papuan Spine-tailed Swifts Mearnsia novaeguineae on Boigu Island, Torres Strait, Queensland. Australian Field Ornithology23: 125-129.
Clarke, Rohan H. (2007). An Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove, Ptilinopus iozonus, on Boigu Island, Torres Strait: The First Record for Australian Territory. Australian Field Ornithology24: 44-48.
Draffan, R.D.W.; Garnett, S.T.; & Malone, G.J. (1983). Birds of the Torres Strait: an annotated list and biogeographical analysis. Emu83: 207-234.
Morcombe, Michael. (2000). Field Guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing: Brisbane. ISBN 1-876282-10-X
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