Feathers in focus as the Aussie Bird Count returns

Spring has arrived and so has a favourite citizen science event, the 2025 Aussie Bird Count that hundreds of locals across the Coast participate in.

Now in its 12th year, the bird count is a national celebration of our diverse birdlife, from magpies and fairy-wrens to cockatoos, curlews and honeyeaters.

From Monday to Sunday, October 20-26, 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.

Allan Benson from the Central Coast Group of Birding NSW says it’s a fun way to get to know and appreciate local birds and is urging people to get involved.

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“The Central Coast bird list is more than 300 species so there are lots of great places to watch birds,”

Alan Benson

Benson said favourite birding spots included Central Coast Wetlands-Pioneer Dairy on Tacoma Rd at Tuggerah, Soldiers Point, around the Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes.

All you have to do is pick a spot, anywhere from the backyard to a favourite park or garden, then spend 20 minutes quietly observing the birds you see.

Submit your count using the free Aussie Bird Count app which will help identify the birds you see and hear.

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

Last year, more than 57,000 people from all around Australia submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1million birds using the app or registering at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au

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.

National Public Affairs Manager Sean Dooley says it’s not about being a bird expert but rather about spending time outdoors and learning something new about the 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,” he said.

“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.

BirdLife Australia CEO Kate Millar said birds were 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,” she said.