The Aussie Bird Count is back and swooping in with an annual opportunity to spotlight both familiar backyard birds and surprising regional species.
Australia’s largest citizen science project, the Aussie Bird Count encourages everyone to get to know their local birds and help BirdLife Australia take an annual, national snapshot of the birds around us.
Taking place from October 20-26, people of all ages are invited to take 20 minutes out of their day to spot, identify, and count the birds around them.
Last year, more than 57,000 participants submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1 million birds across the country using the free Aussie Bird Count app.
Bold, adaptable species – the Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, and Australian Magpie – again topped the charts.
It is a simple process.
Firstly, pick your spot– anywhere from your backyard to your favourite park.
Then spend 20 minutes observing the birds you see.
Lastly, submit your count using the Aussie Bird Count app, which will help you identify the birds you see and hear.
You can go out and count as many times as you like during Bird Week as long as each count lasts 20 minutes and is submitted separately.
BirdLife Australia, the national bird conservation charity behind the Aussie Bird Count, says the event is an important step towards connection between people, place and purpose.
National public affairs manager Sean Dooley said it is not about being a bird expert.
“It’s about spending time outdoors and learning something new about your local environment.
“The Aussie Bird Count shows how citizen science can bring families and communities together while contributing to our understanding of Australia’s unique wildlife.
“A simple 20-minute activity can become an annual family tradition that teaches everyone about observation and nature.”
With more than a decade of data, the Aussie Bird Count results can provide BirdLife Australia with insights into trends in urban bird populations, contributing to a dataset that helps to guide future awareness campaigns, conservation priorities, and community education.
To participate: http://www.aussiebirdcount.org.au/
