Eyre Bird Observatory in Western Autralia - a hot/cold place

@JudyEv (329109)
Rockingham, Australia
May 22, 2024 9:49pm CST
Eyre Bird Observatory is on the coast of Western Australia and on the southern edge of the Nullarbor Plain. Cocklebiddy (isn't that a great name?) is 49 km (30 miles) to the north but, other than that there are no settlements anywhere near it. It was established by Birds Australia in 1977 as a base for the study and enjoyment of birds. Being where it is, you’d expect it to be really hot. It has a semi-arid climate and certainly the days get very hot. However, it regularly comes in with the coldest overnight temperature. Our friends managed the guest house there for a time and had to take the weather readings. Another of their duties was to drive along the beach and count the dead birds. They said the weather station, and the observatory, are located in a shallow depression and with a sand ridge between the observatory and the ocean. This helps account for the chilly nights. Eyre Bird Observatory has West Australia’s official lowest temperature of -7.2 °C (19.0 °F) recorded in 2008. On March 5, 2008, it had a range between minimum and maximum of 37.4 °C (67.3 °F) going from 6.8 to 44.2 °C (44.2 to 111.6 °F). I wonder how many times people changed from summer to winter clothes on that day. The photo is mine of a butcher bird.
18 people like this
14 responses
@sallypup (58733)
• Centralia, Washington
23 May
I'd love to explore this bird observatory. Sounds so beautiful.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I think they get a lot of visitors each year. There are a lot of different species which can be seen there.
@wolfgirl569 (98043)
• Marion, Ohio
23 May
That is big swings in temperature
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (98043)
• Marion, Ohio
23 May
@JudyEv I wouldn't like that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
@wolfgirl569 I think the humidity would be low.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
It's huge, isn't it? You'd be sweltering through the day and freezing in the evenings.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (172647)
• United States
23 May
It really sounds like an interesting place to visit.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
People can stay here for a small fee and bird-watch or do research or whatever.
@Tampa_girl7 (49413)
• United States
23 May
I love to watch birds.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (49413)
• United States
23 May
@JudyEv they are very entertaining.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I used to take a lot of photos of birds when they would come to the birdbath outside my office window.
1 person likes this
@just4him (311401)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 May
That's a huge temperature range for one day. Beautiful bird.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
People think of the observatory as being in the desert so you don't really associate the place with low temperatures.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161760)
• United States
23 May
Beautiful bird. The Observatory sounds like a fun place to visit. I love birds. Have a good day.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I think they get a lot of visitors each year either to study birds or just enjoy the area.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (158349)
• United States
23 May
It sounds like a neat resource.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
It is certainly a place to get away from it all. I think you need four wheel drive to get to it but I'm not sure about that.
@rebelann (111753)
• El Paso, Texas
23 May
It reminds me of our desert between the months of April and May, our nights stay relatively cool if not cold while the afternoons tend to reach between 65f/18c and 95f/35c.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
I know desert areas get cold at night but it still seems strange to me.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111753)
• El Paso, Texas
24 May
Yeah, I've heard people new to El Paso say that too
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (87102)
• United States
24 May
A lovely place though it sounds..I love the birdeens.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
Unfortunately I haven't been there and I guess now I probably won't make it. But that's okay.
@jstory07 (134833)
• Roseburg, Oregon
23 May
I would love to see all of those birds.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
It would be very interesting to see all the different birds there.
@LadyDuck (463266)
• Switzerland
23 May
This bird is beautiful, I do not believe we have them in Europe, but I will research. Your friend is doing an important and useful job.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (463266)
• Switzerland
23 May
@JudyEv Our magpies are different as well as the European red robin, it's a cute friendly bird.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
I think this one might belong just to us. Some have the same name as those in other countries but are quit different. Magpies and robins are two examples.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (75080)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 May
I love that photo of the bird, Never heard of such a bird, I sure would love to see all the birds there,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
We do have some colourful ones but I guess every country has its beautiful birds. This one has a lovely song too.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (209225)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 May
Dang! That's quite change. Here it can be 110 F inland and 68 F at the beaches.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (209225)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 May
@JudyEv Probably similar to here. Warmer inland in Summer. Cooler inland in Winter.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 May
I know deserts at night can be cold and our temperature here is always a lot cooler than at my sister's an hour's drive away.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (13640)
• Hong Kong
23 May
I've been to bird watching. It was interesting.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (329109)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 May
We have a friend who loves bird-watching. If I were doing it I'd want to be taking photos but she doesn't bother with photos.
1 person likes this