Count the value

Next week, from 20-26 October 2025, Australians will head into their backyards for BirdLife Australia’s annual Aussie Bird Count.

Last year, more than 57,000 participants counted an astonishing 4.1 million birds as part of the week-long national event. No two states shared the same top three birds, showing how birds are integral to the unique character and identity of each state.

“Australia is a big place, full of diversity, and as you move across the continent, it’s fascinating to see the variety of birds change,” said Sean Dooley, Senior Public Affairs Advisor at BirdLife Australia, adding that birds are responding to the way we have changed our environment.

“The most numerous birds reported in the Aussie Bird Count are the ones that adapt better to these changes”, Dooley noted.

“If we want to ensure we can enjoy seeing and hearing a greater variety of birds, including smaller bush birds, we need to continue the great work already underway to create more diverse habitat in both urban and regional spaces.”

The vibrant, chatty Rainbow Lorikeet continues to be a common sight in parks and gardens in Australia’s most populous cities, closely followed by the Noisy Miner, a native honeyeater sometimes mistaken for the introduced Common Myna.

“The Australian Magpie was actually the bird spotted by the most participants across the country, so it’s Australia’s most familiar bird”, Dooley said. “Almost 50 per cent of participants saw a Magpie when they did the Aussie Bird Count, which is a reminder of how closely connected we are to this beautiful, intelligent bird.”

“Watching birds is fun, but it can also be very important”, he added. “Birds tell us a lot about the environment we live in and keeping track of them helps us take the pulse of the environment.

“At BirdLife Australia, we love seeing so many Australians getting excited about birds each year. If you had fun taking part in last year’s Count and can’t wait until October, we’d love you to join our active community of volunteer birdwatchers who have already contributed more than 25 million records to our Birdata platform. It’s free and it helps BirdLife Australia with our scientific research and conservation work. Your hobby can really make a big difference.”

Taking part in the 2025 count is easy. Just complete the registration form on the Aussiebirdcount.org.au website, download the app and get counting from Monday October 20th. Whether you spend 20 minutes once in the week or several times a day in different spots, every count will be valued.