BirdLife Australia is calling on all Australians to join tens of thousands of others taking part in this year’s Aussie Bird Count. The national Aussie Bird Count is one of Australia’s biggest and most beloved citizen science events – and all you need to get involved is your phone.
The 11th annual Aussie Bird Count begins Monday 14 October and runs through to Sunday 20 October.
One of Australia’s largest citizen science projects, the Aussie Bird Count invites participants of all ages to spend 20 minutes observing and counting birds in their local area.
With plenty of insights from a decade of Bird Counts, the team at BirdLife Australia are now looking to see what the next 10 years will mean to the birds around us.
Australians of all ages and experiences will be stepping outside, heading outdoors to a patch of green space, be it their backyard, park or local wetland, and having fun getting to know their local birds, while helping BirdLife Australia collect information about the birds around us.
“Last year, over 60,000 people counted more than 3.5 million birds ‒ but we’re hoping this year might be our biggest yet,” said Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia’s “chief bird nerd” and Senior Public Relations Advisor.
“Over the last decade, the Aussie Bird Count has helped Australians better understand the birds we share our lives with. It has provided an annual snapshot of how our birds are faring.
“There have been some surprises along the way with the Australian White Ibis (aka the Bin Chicken) breaking into the national top ten while the notorious introduced Common Myna has slipped down the rankings. So far the Rainbow Lorikeet has reigned supreme as Australia’s most frequently counted bird year after year.
“But as well as the bird numbers it gives us, people tell us every year about how much they love taking part in the Aussie Bird Count. People of all ages genuinely enjoy spending 20 minutes watching birds because it’s a relaxing and rewarding thing to do. Parents and grandparents love doing Aussie Bird Counts with their kids and last year we had over 800 schools participate.” said Sean.
“Having the Aussie bird Count app to guide you means you don’t have to be a bird expert to join in the fun. People love it and feel great knowing their sightings are going to BirdLife Australia who are working hard to conserve Australian birds and their habitats.
“We have learned a lot from the hundreds of thousands of Aussies that have taken part in the Count over the past decade. Now we’re looking to see what the next ten years will mean to the birds around us – what changes will we see?”
There are plenty of reasons to join the Aussie Bird Count – it is an opportunity for every Australian to help gather data on bird populations and species distribution across the country. The count also enables communities to connect with nature and appreciate the diversity of local wildlife.
To take part in this year’s Aussie Bird Count, register at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au and download BirdLife Australia’s free Aussie Bird Count app. From the 14th to the 20th of October, spend 20 minutes in one spot watching birds, using the super-easy app to count them.
“This year we would love people to get their friends and family involved. Get your flock together for a count, we know you’ll love getting to know the birds right on your doorstep.”
To take part in this year’s Aussie Bird Count, register at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au
