The $3 billion hobby: why birdwatching is fuelling Australia's regional tourism

There's a deafening chorus of native bird songs blasting from Australia's bush every morning, just before first light.

Most people sleep right through it, but a growing number of Australian nature tourists are setting their alarms, packing their telephoto lenses and heading into the bush.

Birdwatching is hardly a new pastime in Australia, but for road trippers looking to escape the overcrowded tourist routes, the hobby is a good excuse to get off the beaten path.

And the movement is growing.

Weekend Birder podcast host Kirsty Costa has started venturing into new corners of the country to spot unfamiliar species.

"Even in the outback there's desert birds that are really incredible," Ms Costa said.

"I was up at Broken Hill recently, and they've got amazing desert birds that I'd never seen before."

From the flooded billabongs of the Top End to delicate coastal estuaries, birdwatchers are exploring regional nature reserves to spend a few days tracking down our most remarkable native species.

Australian birdwatchers pump a staggering $636 million into the domestic economy in the year to June 2024, Tourism Research Australia estimated.

And they're not the only ones obsessed with eastern rosellas. International birdwatchers contributed even more, $2.6 billion, into Australia's visitor economy in the same period.

After launching her podcast, Ms Costa was surprised to learn how many international birdwatchers had Australia on their bucket list.

"A rainbow lorikeet, for people living on the East Coast, is just your everyday occurrence," she said.

"But for people overseas, they're this beautiful, bright, loud, vivid parrot living alongside you, at your house.

"That blows their mind."

Adelaide amateur photographer Promith Gurbachan said one of the most appealing parts is the pastime's flexibility and freedom, taking him from backyard birdwatching deep into the countryside.

His passion started at home, but bird photography soon became a hobby he could practice anywhere.

The breakthrough came for Mr Gurbachan when he realised that taking brilliant wildlife photos didn't have to cost him thousands of dollars.

Turned off by the $2000 to $3000 price tag on traditional long lenses, Mr Gurbachan bought a budget lens from online sellers Temu.

"When I purchased it, I wasn't really thinking much because it was like $70 and I wasn't really looking for a result," he said.

"But the clarity was amazing for the price.

Using free mobile tools such as the Merlin Bird ID app, birdwatchers are able to watch, track and photograph their feathered friends.

Beyond Merlin Bird ID, Ms Costa recommended other free ways to get amateur birdwatchers started.

Another app, eBird, keeps a personal list of what you spot.

It includes an interactive map pointing out public birding hotspots nearby so you can see what neighbours are discovering.

Aussie Bird Count, Australia's favourite citizen science project, is run each October via a BirdLife Australia app.

Sit on your patio or in a park for 20 minutes, tick off what flies by and send in your tally to help scientists protect local wildlife.