International bird watchers will soon be flocking to the Dubbo region with the introduction of the Macquarie River Trails bird watching map.
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The map, launched by non-for-profit organisation RiverSmart Australia in Dubbo yesterday, highlights 13 sites and five driving trails which broadly follow the river from Lake Burrendong to the Macquarie Marshes, stopping through cities along the river.
RiverSmart CEO Bill Phillips said bird watching is a huge recreational pastime in the northern hemisphere, especially in the United States, Japan and Western Europe, and Australia is on the bucket lists of many of the international bird watchers.
"It's the 'Holy Grail' because there are so many unique species native to Australia," Dr Phillips said.
Dr Phillips said the trail was designed to keep tourists in the area for an extended stay as they search for the 300 species of woodland, riverine or wetland birds listed in the map.
"Unlike other bird watching points in Australia, the Macquarie River bird watching trails are unique as they contain multiple locations for viewing the birds.
"[Bird watchers]can plan a week to 10-day trip looking at all the different birds, which will keep people in the region longer," he said.
Dubbo mayor Matthew Dickerson said the map is an excellent way to promote tourism in the region and reinforce Dubbo's image as a great location for nature-based activities.
To celebrate the new trail, RiverSmart will be holding the inaugural five week Macquarie Bird Watching Challenge in September.