Dust off the binoculars, South Australia is gearing up to take part in the world’s largest bird watching event on May 14. 

May 14 is World Migratory Bird Day and to celebrate each year the Global Big Day event is held internationally.

Global Big Day is about celebrating birds, with the data captured helping scientists better understand global bird populations. 

This year, water managers across the Murray-Darling Basin have formed a team and will attempt to help Australia move up the rankings. 

In South Australia, a team led by the Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will take part at locations in the Lower Lakes and Coorong and Riverland regions. 

DEW spokesperson Adrienne Rumbelow says South Australia’s wetlands and floodplains play host to an amazing variety of bird species from shorebirds, fish-eating species, waterfowl and bush birds across the Murraylands and Riverland and Coorong and Lower Lakes regions. 

“Although most migratory waders have returned to the northern hemisphere in the Australian autumn, there are still many bird species to observe and record,” she says. 

“This is a great opportunity to get out into nature and take part in an important global event.” 

Last year more than 51,000 people from 192 countries submitted 134,000 bird checklists, with 7,333 different bird species observed, setting four new world records for a single day of birding. 

Australia was ranked 15th in the world for number of species observed, with 554 different birds spotted. 

You can join in from your backyard or visit your local wetland or bird hot-spot. For more information visit the Big Day website.