The Aussie Bird Count is an activity for all-ages that involves observing and counting the birds that live near you – whether that’s in your garden, the local park, a beach or even your town centre. By telling us about the birds you’ve seen within a 20 minute period, you will help BirdLife Australia develop an understanding of local birds whilst getting to know the wildlife on your doorstep!

To complete the Aussie Bird Count, spend 20 minutes standing or sitting in one spot and noting down the birds that you see. You will need to count the number of each species you spot within the 20 minute period. For example, you might see 4 Australian Magpies, 2 Rainbow Lorikeets and a Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. If you can identify birds by their calls, please include these in your count, but if you aren’t sure of a bird without seeing it, please exclude it rather than making a guess. The Aussie Bird Count app has a handy field guide to help you identify birds.

Once you have completed your count, you can submit it in two different ways:

You can submit your bird count through the online web form (this form won’t be made live until the 8 October)

OR

You can submit your counts through the free Aussie Bird Count app. The app is available for iPhones and Android smartphones: go to the Google Play or Apple App Store to download the app for free. If you have the Aussie Bird Count app from previous years don’t delete it – it should update automatically with the newest version. The app operates as a field guide/bird finder between event dates. There’s a built-in “bird finder” tool to help you identify birds you’re unsure of.