- BirdLife Australia presents the 2019 Aussie Backyard Bird Count during National Bird Week, 21-27 October
- Help count more than 3 million birds using the #AussieBirdCount app
- Register now at aussiebirdcount.org.au and discover the birds in your backyard
From students to CEOs, children to grandparents, and remote outback communities to those in our inner cities, a passion for birds is a pastime that has long connected Australians.
From 21-27 October 2019, a diverse group of Australians will be asked to help BirdLife Australia count the birds that share their urban, rural and regional backyards as part of the annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count, being held during National Bird Week.
Using the specially designed app, which helps people identify local birds based on size, colour and location, the aim is to count more than three million birds in seven days.
The count, which has risen in popularity over the past five years to become one of Australia’s largest citizen science projects, gives Australians a chance to take a break from their busy everyday lives and spend 20 minutes in their favourite outdoor spaces.
Leading the diverse range of counters across the country will be BirdLife Australia’s Chief Bird Nerd, Sean Dooley, who says BirdLife Australia has noticed a broader range of people contributing to the count since it began.
“The Aussie Backyard Bird Count continues to attract a diverse range of counters from young families teaching their children about nature to retirees using birds as a great excuse to explore Australia,” Mr. Dooley said. “Like the birds that live around us, Australian bird lovers are an incredibly varied flock, but they all share a passion for our feathered friends.”
In 2018, Australian birdwatchers recorded more than 610 species, with the Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner and Australian Magpie remaining Australia’s most counted birds.
The updated Aussie Bird Count app (available from 1 October) allows you to take part anywhere—not just backyards, but in local parks, botanical gardens, schoolyards or beaches—wherever you might see birds.
The national total will be updated in real time, and the app allows you to see which species are being seen in your local area.
Start spreading the word with #AussieBirdCount.
/Public Release.
