Aussie birds need you!

Gippslanders are encouraged to download the Aussie Bird Count app and record their backyard bird sightings between 19 and 25 October. 

East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s NRM Project ManagerSean Phillipson, said BirdLife Australia is an important partner in works happening around the Gippsland Lakes. 

BirdLife Australia is involved in some really great works around the Gippsland Lakes,” explained Sean. “From the Great Pelican Count, to their monitoring work of terns and bitterns it’s great to have them involved. 

BirdLife Australia is now looking for support for their Aussie Backyard Bird Count, which is a simple way to contribute to citizen science.” 

The #AussieBirdCount is a great way to connect with the birds in your backyard no matter where your backyard happens to be — a suburban backyard, a local park, a patch of forest, down by the beach, or the main street of town. 

You can count as many times as you like over the week, we just ask that each count is completed over a 20-minute period. The data collected assists BirdLife Australia in understanding more about the birds that live where people live. 

Last year’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count saw nearly 3.4 million birds counted across Australia – the most counted bird was the Rainbow Lorikeet which was counted more than 400,000 times. 

“Birds are a great indicator of local habitat,” continued Sean. “That’s why bird monitoring is an important part of natural resource management work.  

“We’re so lucky to have a Ramsar listed site right here on our doorstep at the Gippsland Lakes and there are small things we can all do to help protect it. Participating in this citizen science project is one of them.” 

The Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee projects are funded by the Victorian State Government for the health of the Gippsland Lakes.  

For more information about the Aussie Backyard Bird Count go to aussiebirdcount.org.au.  

 

 

The photo above is from Georgina Steytler (wildandendangered.com.au). Welcome Swallows were in the top 10 counted birds in the 2019 count.