Call to join Aussie Bird Count 2025

Published 9:03am 15 September 2025

Words by Kylie Knight

Main image: James Mascott

Spring has arrived and so has the 2025 Aussie Bird Count – a chance for citizen scientists to spot, identify and count the birds around them.

Registrations are now open for the event, in its 12^th year, which is a national celebration of Australia’s diverse birdlife, from magpies and fairy-wrens to cockatoos, curlews and honeyeaters.

From Monday, October 20 to Sunday, October 26, BirdLife Australia is inviting people of all ages to take 20 minutes out of their day to join in the count.

Last year, more than 57,000 people submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1 million birds across Australia using the free Aussie Bird Count app.

Bold, adaptable species - the Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, and Australian Magpie - again topped the charts.

Image: Chris Tzaros.

How to take part

1. Pick your spot – anywhere you like, from your backyard to your favourite park or garden

2. Spend 20 minutes quietly observing the birds you see

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

Note: You can go out and count as many times as you like during Bird Week as long as each count lasts 20 minutes and is submitted separately.

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.

BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Manager Sean Dooley says: “It’s not about being a bird expert. It’s about spending time outdoors and learning something new about your 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. 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 to guide future awareness campaigns, conservation priorities and community education.

Birdlife Australia CEO Kate Millar says: “Birds are 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”.