Spring has arrived and so has Australia’s favourite citizen science event.

A national celebration of our diverse birdlife, from magpies and fairy-wrens to cockatoos, curlews and honeyeaters, the 2025 Aussie Bird Count is taking flight for its 12th year, with registrations now open.

From Monday October 20 to Sunday October 26, BirdLife Australia is inviting people of all ages to take just 20 minutes out of their day to spot, identify, and count the birds around them.

Last year, more than 57,000 participants submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1 million birds across the country using the free Aussie Bird Count app. Bold, adaptable species - the Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, and Australian Magpie - again topped the charts. Will they swoop in for the top three once more in 2025?

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

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.

“It’s not about being a bird expert,” says Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Manager.

“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, contributing to a dataset that helps to guide future awareness campaigns, conservation priorities, and community education. 

“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,” says Kate Millar, CEO of BirdLife Australia whose mission is to save birds and the natural life systems on which they depend.

“It’s also often a first step on a longer journey of curiosity, from noticing birds to caring about them, and from caring to protecting,” Kate adds.

“Whether you’re a regular birder or someone who just enjoys the occasional kookaburra laugh or lorikeet fly-by, we’re inviting everyone across the country to pause, step outside, and count the birds that share their skies, gardens, and daily walks.”

Why join the count?

Australia’s largest citizen science project, the Aussie Bird Count encourages everyone to get to know their local birds and help BirdLife Australia take an annual, national snapshot of the birds around us.

It is also helping Australians to embrace the natural environment and sustainable thinking, through activations in classrooms, councils and even workplaces, with many embracing it as a learning tool, community activity and wellbeing initiative.

“Every count matters,” says Sean. “Every time someone stops to notice a bird, even a common one, that’s a moment of connection.

“Whether you’re watching rainbow lorikeets on your balcony, ducks in your local pond, or fairy-wrens darting through your backyard, we want everyone to experience the joy birds bring. Communities that care about nature are communities that protect it.”

The 2025 Aussie Bird Count
When: Monday October 20 – Sunday October 26
Where: Everywhere in Australia
How: Download the free Aussie Bird Count app or visit www.aussiebirdcount.org.au to register