Counting crows (and cockatoos, and kookaburras): BirdLife Australia’s Aussie bird count takes flight for 2026
News Source
•Fri, 23 Oct 2026 14:00:29 GMT
📰 What Happened
BirdLife Australia's yearly Aussie Bird Count runs until Sunday 25 October. More than 3.7 million birds have been counted so far, putting the survey on track to beat last year's record. Anyone can join by counting birds in one spot and logging what they see.
At Cedars Christian College in Wollongong, teacher Karen Jooste built maths and writing lessons around the count. Her students watch tawny frogmouths with two chicks, magpies, wood ducks and a bowerbird that builds a bright blue nest each spring.
🔍 The Backstory
The count has run for more than a decade and gives scientists a yearly picture of where common birds live. Australia has lost a lot of bird habitat to land clearing, drought and bushfires.
Long-running surveys by ordinary people help spot declines early. Thousands of volunteers record the same parks, farms and backyards each year, so changes stand out. Schools use the data to teach maths and conservation at the same time.
🎯 Why It Matters
You do not need to be an expert to help science. A short count in a backyard or park gives researchers data they cannot gather alone.
BirdLife Australia's yearly Aussie Bird Count runs until Sunday 25 October. More than 3.7 million birds have been counted so far, putting the survey on track to beat last year's record. Anyone can join by counting birds in one spot and logging what they see.
At Cedars Christian College in Wollongong, teacher Karen Jooste built maths and writing lessons around the count. Her students watch tawny frogmouths with two chicks, magpies, wood ducks and a bowerbird that builds a bright blue nest each spring.
The count has run for more than a decade and gives scientists a yearly picture of where common birds live. Australia has lost a lot of bird habitat to land clearing, drought and bushfires.
Long-running surveys by ordinary people help spot declines early. Thousands of volunteers record the same parks, farms and backyards each year, so changes stand out. Schools use the data to teach maths and conservation at the same time.
You do not need to be an expert to help science. A short count in a backyard or park gives researchers data they cannot gather alone.