The ‘Aussie Backyard Bird Count’ commences today and ends Sunday 28 October using ‘citizen science’ to track bird numbers and species around the country.
Murrindindi Shire Deputy Mayor Sandice McAulay encourages everyone to participate.
“It’s really easy, all you have to do is go outside for 20 minutes and count how many birds you see and what type they are. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or an expert – you can just ‘look up’ those you don’t know on the free ‘Aussie Bird Count’ app or at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au. Then you just upload your findings to the website or through the app. You can undertake as many or as few ‘observation sessions’ as you want,” McAulay said.
“I’ve already registered for this year’s ‘Bird Count’ and I use the app all the time to identify birds on my property.
“Last year, more than 72,000 people around Australia participated in the Bird Count, submitting some 60,000 checklists which tallied almost two million birds. In our Shire, 190 locals counted more than 9000 birds over 81 volunteer observation hours during the 2017 ‘Bird Count’.
“It will be no surprise to locals that the most commonly detected bird species in Murrindindi Shire during the 2017 Backyard Bird Count was the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo.
“I really encourage everyone to get involved in the 2018 Aussie Backyard Bird Count,” McAulay said.
For more information on the Aussie Backyard Bird Count visit www.aussiebirdcount.org.au, download the app or contact Council’s Environment Officer on (03) 5772 0333.
