Registrations are now open for Australia’s largest citizen science project, the Aussie Bird Count, which will take place the week of 20 to 26 October.

This national springtime event celebrates diverse birdlife, from magpies and fairy-wrens to cockatoos, curlews and honeyeaters and is taking flight for its 12th year.

BirdLife Australia is inviting people of all ages to take just 20 minutes out of their day to spot, identify, and count the birds around them during one October week.

Last year, more than 57,000 participants submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1 million birds across the country using the free Aussie Bird Count app. 

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How to take part:

• Pick a spot – anywhere you like, from your backyard to your favourite park or garden.
• Spend 20 minutes quietly observing the birds you see.
• Submit your count using the Aussie Bird Count app, which will help you identify the birds you see and hear.

You can go out and count as many times as you like during Bird Week as long as each count lasts 20 minutes and is submitted separately.

BirdLife Australia, the national bird conservation charity behind the Aussie Bird Count, says the event is an important step towards connection between people, place and purpose.

“It’s not about being a bird expert,” says Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Manager. 

“It’s about spending time outdoors and learning something new about your local environment.

“The Aussie Bird Count shows how citizen science can bring families and communities together while contributing to our understanding of Australia’s unique wildlife. 

“A simple 20-minute activity can become an annual family tradition that teaches everyone about observation and nature.”

With more than a decade of data, the Aussie Bird Count results can provide BirdLife Australia with insights into trends in urban bird populations, contributing to a dataset that helps to guide future awareness campaigns, conservation priorities, and community education. 

“Birds are indicators of environmental health. One in six Australian bird species is now under threat, so taking note of the birds around us has never been more important,” says Kate Millar, CEO of BirdLife Australia, whose mission is to save birds and the natural life systems on which they depend.

“It’s also often a first step on a longer journey of curiosity, from noticing birds to caring about them, and from caring to protecting.” 

“Whether you’re a regular birder or someone who just enjoys the occasional kookaburra laugh or lorikeet fly-by, we’re inviting everyone across the country to pause, step outside, and count the birds that share their skies, gardens, and daily walks.”

To find out more and register for the count, visit the Aussie Bird Count website.