Meet Yu Ota, Australia-based bird guide and ornithologist

SBS Japanese

Yu Ota is a bird guide and ornithologist based in Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, an area known for its tropical rainforests and diverse wildlife. Having grown up in a major city in Japan, how did he come to build a career working with birds in Australia? We spoke to Ota about his journey, his long-running involvement in bird research, and the appeal of birdwatching. This story was first published in May 2022.

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Published 23 August 2026 5:00pm

By Yuko Kamimura

Source: SBS

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Yu Ota is a bird guide and ornithologist based in Queensland’s Atherton Tablelands, an area known for its tropical rainforests and diverse wildlife. Having grown up in a major city in Japan, how did he come to build a career working with birds in Australia? We spoke to Ota about his journey, his long-running involvement in bird research, and the appeal of birdwatching. This story was first published in May 2022.

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