Hiked four days across a national park in the US a couple of years ago and was astounded at the lack of wildlife. Two snakes and a couple dozen small lizards, b

Hiked four days across a national park in the US a couple of years ago and was astounded at the lack of wildlife. Two snakes and a couple dozen small lizards, but almost no birds, no squirrels/chipmunks/whatever, no deer, etc. The lack of birds in particular amazed me, and I noticed the same hiking in Europe. In Australian backyards, let alone the bush, the birdlife is varied and can be very noisy (magpies, lorikeets, cockatoos). At dawn in many areas of the bush here, the birds are hilariously loud - good luck sleeping in if you're camping!