The country of the birds
Along Adelaide’s northern coastline lies a landscape shaped by tides, seasons and long migratory journeys. Each year, shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres across the globe to reach these mudflats, mangroves and saltmarsh, where they feed, rest and prepare for their return north.
This is a place of international significance and local pride — where important habitats are protected, and community members work together to care for a remarkable coastal environment. Learn more about the Sanctuary, the National Park, and the volunteers who help safeguard this special place.
The Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary stretches around the Gulf St. Vincent incorporating coastline from Barker Inlet to Price on the yorke peninsula, forming a vital Key Biodiversity Area (KBA).
Its coastline and adjoining inland habitats provide an essential feeding and roosting refuge for more than 29,000 migratory shorebirds each year. These extraordinary birds travel over 12,000 kilometres from their northern breeding grounds in Alaska and the Russian tundra to spend summer here, rebuilding energy before returning north.
This internationally significant coastline plays a crucial role in supporting migratory species and protecting local biodiversity.
Within the Sanctuary lies the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary National Park — Winaityinaityi Pangkara, a Kaurna name meaning “Country of the birds”
The National Park spans 60 kilometres of coastline and covers 14,633 hectares, extending from St Kilda to Parham. It protects a diverse range of coastal, marine, and inland habitats, including mangroves, saltmarsh, tidal flats, and samphire country. These environments provide critical feeding, roosting, and breeding grounds for migratory shorebirds, as well as important habitat for many resident species and other wildlife.
The Sanctuary is a terminal feeding ground for birds in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway one of the world’s great migratory bird routes, supporting more than 50 million migratory waterbirds each year. Thousands of these birds travel vast distances between the northern hemisphere and Australia, relying on places like this to rest and refuel along their journey.
Known as FAIBS, our volunteer community group has been active since 2016. We were established by a small group of passionate local people who recognised the ecological significance of this unique coastal environment and were determined to play an active role in its protection and care.
Since then, FAIBS has grown into a dedicated and welcoming community of volunteers who share a commitment to conserving the habitats and wildlife of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary. Our members come from a wide range of backgrounds, united by a common interest in the environment, birdlife, and the long-term health of the coastline.
Working alongside park rangers, local councils, Traditional Owners, and environmental organisations, we contribute to on-ground conservation, community education, and citizen science. Through these efforts, we aim to support the ongoing protection of this internationally significant habitat while fostering a deeper connection between people and place.