What birds live on the Great Barrier Reef?

1. Eastern Osprey: This majestic raptor is known for its magnificent dives when hunting for fish and other aquatic prey.

2. Sea Eagles: White-bellied Sea-Eagle and the Lesser Fish Eagle are common in parts of the Great Barrier Reef. They specialize in catching fish from the water's surface.

3. Pied Oystercatchers: These colorful shorebirds are well-adapted to rocky intertidal zones, where they pry open oysters and other shellfish with their specialized bills.

4. Sooty Oystercatcher: Similar to Pied Oystercatchers in habits and diet, but with darker plumage.

5. Masked Lapwings: These noisy birds are often seen around rocky shores and coastal areas. They are territorial and known for their aggressive defense behaviors.

6. Bar-tailed Godwits: These long-distance migratory shorebirds visit the Great Barrier Reef in large numbers during their seasonal migrations.

7. Whimbrels: These medium-sized shorebirds are also migratory and can be spotted on the reef during their travels.

8. Silver Gulls: These familiar gulls are opportunistic feeders and scavengers, often found along the coastline and on islands.

9. Terns: Various species of terns, such as the graceful Fairy Tern and the Black-naped Tern, can be seen flying and diving over the waters of the Great Barrier Reef.

10. Tropicbirds: Red-tailed Tropicbirds and White-tailed Tropicbirds are magnificent seabirds that nest on some of the offshore islands within the Great Barrier Reef region.

11. Brown Boobies: These seabirds are skilled divers that plunge from great heights to catch fish and other marine creatures.

12. Frigatebirds: With their impressive wingspans, frigatebirds soar effortlessly over the ocean, often seen harassing other seabirds to steal their catches.

13. Pied Imperial Pigeons: These colorful pigeons inhabit some of the islands within the Great Barrier Reef, feeding on fruits, seeds, and insects.

It's worth noting that the Great Barrier Reef is home to a diverse range of bird species, with some being permanent residents and others being seasonal visitors. This list provides just a glimpse of some of the avian species that can be encountered in this incredible marine ecosystem.