Home Topics Wildlife The Aussie Backyard Bird Count starts today

The Aussie Backyard Bird Count starts today

Image credit: David Steele/Shuttershock

IS YOUR BACKYARD full of pesky cockatoos waiting for a feed? An Australian bush-turkey that loves renovating your backyard, or maybe you’ve been lucky enough to have a southern boobook owl perched in your backyard tree?

This 23-29 October, during National Bird Week, it’s your chance to do your bit for citizen science by recording the resident avian population close to home.

In its fourth year, the Aussie Backyard Bird Count is an initiative of BirdLife Australia, and it provides everyday Aussies with an opportunity to contribute to a snapshot of Australian birdlife as well as an ongoing insight into trends in our bird communities from year to year. 

The rainbow lorikeet has been the most sighted bir during the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Aussie Backyard Bird Count. (Image: Andrew Silcocks)

You don’t have to officially have a ‘backyard’ to take part – a local park, school yard or simply your favourite outdoor space, whether at the beach or in a national park, will do, as long as it’s in Australia. Simply stay put (within a 200m radius) for 20 minutes and note every bird you can identify during that time.

BirdLife Australia has a target of counting 1.5 million birds over the seven-day period, and all kinds of bird watchers, from novices to experts and school kids to retirees, are encouraged to participate.

“We share our backyards with an impressive array of birds and are very fortunate that their feathers come from all spectrums of the rainbow,” says BirdLife Australia’s Sean Dooley. “And just like our birds, birdwatchers can come from an incredible range of backgrounds.”

You can record the birds using the free Aussie Bird Count app or by filling out a form online. Find out more at aussiebirdcount.org.au.

READ MORE:

• The secret world of bird baths
• Australia’s mysterious hybrid bird
• Endangered Aussie bird bouncing back
• First footage of the night parrot

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