The Adelaide River is one of eight rivers in the Top End which have large floodplains in their catchments. Together, their floodplains create a great expanse of coastal wetlands, one of the rarest and most threatened land systems in the world. They are collectively known as the northern coastal wetlands.
The wetlands support an enormous amount of birdlife. The Adelaide River floodplain regularly has large numbers of waterbirds including huge flocks of Magpie Goose, Whistling-Ducks and other species.
The upper and middle parts of the floodplain provide core nesting habitat for Magpie Geese and the largest waterbird breeding colony in the Northern Territory is found in mangroves in the lower reaches of the Adelaide River. This colony supports about 30,000 birds and is likely to be the largest regularly-used egret colony in Australia.
Numerous migratory shorebirds (at least 3 species) periodically visit inland wetland areas on the floodplain.
Adelaide River Coastal Floodplain
The Adelaide River is well known for its crocodiles. Whilst crocodiles may seem lethagic while they are sunning themselves, they can move with frightening speed and agility. Walking, swimming, galloping, leaping. Their leaping ability is especially successful on big heavy birds, slow to take off, such as magpie geese. Crocodiles also favour flying foxes that might be on low hanging branches.
Window on the Wetlands Visitor Centre has been built on Beatirce Hill, the highest point and features a panoramic view of the beautiful wetlands of Northern Territory’s Top End. The Window on the Wetlands is an interpretive centre about importance of the wetlands and the diverse birds animals and reptiles that live here.