This week is National Bird Week (October 17-23), and to help celebrate the beautiful birds that call Australia home, you can participate in the Aussie Bird Count!
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The Aussie Bird Count is the nation’s largest conservation event, and the best part is it only takes 20 minutes! All you have to do is spend time outdoors counting birds and report what you see.
National Bird Week
BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Manager Sean Dooley said there is an urgent need for new bird data due to inconsistent trends across the nation, particularly amongst parrots.
“In Greater Sydney, the reporting rates of the Eastern Rosella have seen a sharp decline,” says Sean.
“There are also concerns about the Australian Ringneck, a species showing a steep decline across Greater Perth. However, we’ve seen an increase in numbers of the Red-rumped Parrot in ACT, and the Australian King-Parrot is also seeing an increase across Melbourne.
“Participation in this year’s Count will enable bird experts to understand more about state-based trends, identify if these trends are continuing for declining species, and help us determine the reasons for the declines.”
How to participate in the Great Aussie Bird Count
Once you have counted your birds and their species, you can submit it in two different ways:
- submit your bird count through the online web form
- submit your counts through the free Aussie Bird Count app. The app is available for iPhones and Android smartphones, go to Google Play or iTunes to download the app for free.
Can beginner bird watchers take part?
The Aussie Bird Count is open to everyone – from complete beginners to certified twitchers! If you aren’t confident in identifying local birds, the Aussie Bird Count app can help you identify birds based on their size, colour and key features.
“We’d love to see Aussies of all ages from each and every state and territory get. The more people we have counting across the week, the more data we have so we can learn more about how parrots are faring, and to help protect them for future generations”, Sean Dooley added.
There are also more than $10,000 worth of prizes being given away as part of this year’s count. For more information on the Aussie Backyard Bird Count, go to www.aussiebirdcount.org.au.
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