Behind the sand dunes on Mungo Self-guided Drive tour, Round Tank picnic area is a great stop for birdwatching enthusiasts. Round Tank was originally designed as a lure for goats, whose numbers are controlled to reduce the damage to young trees and native vegetation. However, the water also attracts a wide variety of birdlife, so bring your binoculars.
Unpacking your picnic hamper, keep an eye out across the mallee scrub for pink cockatoos, galahs, zebra finches and vibrant emerald budgerigars. The vibrant chats can often be seen, attracted to the nectar of the flowering plants of the desert. The flute-like song you might hear is the call of one of the species of butcher birds, while the Nankeen kestrel specialises in hovering over the desert, looking for the movement of mice or lizards on the ground below. If you’re tempted to stay the night, try nearby Belah campground....
