By: Justin Rouillon
Aussie Bird Count is a nationwide citizen science event that invites everyday Australians to get outside, slow down, and take a closer look at the incredible birdlife in their own backyard.
Run annually by BirdLife Australia, the count encourages people of all ages – whether you’re a seasoned twitcher or a total beginner – to spend just 20 minutes observing birds in any outdoor space: your backyard, a local park, a school oval, your balcony, or even the staff car park at work.
It’s simple, surprisingly relaxing, and contributes to real scientific data that helps protect native species.
All observations are logged via the free Aussie Bird Count App (available from the Apple App Store and Google Play or website), which makes identifying birds easy with built-in images and calls.
The Aussie Bird Count website also has a ton of resources available, from bird ID tips, to field guides and podcasts, to help you become a confident bird counter.
Each sighting, even as common as a magpie or noisy miner, helps researchers understand how bird populations are tracking across different regions. The data is especially valuable over time, revealing trends in urbanisation, climate impacts, habitat loss, and which Aussie birds are adapting well to human environments — and which ones are struggling.
It’s also a brilliant excuse to rediscover joy in the everyday. Families often make it a mini backyard adventure, while schools and early learning centres love it as a nature-based learning activity.
Some workplaces are even running ‘bird breaks’ to get staff outdoors! And because you only need 20 minutes, it’s one of the easiest ways to directly support conservation without donating a cent or leaving your suburb.
This year, organisers are again hoping for record participation. In past counts, more than five million birds were logged in a single week — from iconic kookaburras and lorikeets to shy wrens and wandering ibises.
Every count matters. And the best part? Once you start noticing the birds around you, it’s almost impossible to stop.
Article supplied with thanks to 96five.
Feature image: Canva
