The results of Australia’s largest citizen science event, BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count, are in: more than 57,000 participants counted an astonishing 4.1 million birds as part of the week-long national event in October last year.
In an interesting twist, the results have shown that no two states shared the same top three birds, a reminder of 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,” says BirdLife Australia spokesperson Sean Dooley.
“But I think the birds that remind us of home are very special to us. The dawn-chorus at home always feels like home.”
Another interesting find was 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”, he added.
The vibrant Rainbow Lorikeet, a common sight in parks and gardens in Australia’s most populous cities, reigned supreme as the most numerous bird recorded across the country. Noisy Miners, a native honeyeater sometimes mistaken for the introduced Common Myna, came in second.
The Australian Magpie swooped into third place, but while there may have been more rainbows streaking our skies, when it comes to the bird seen by the most people, the result is black and white.
The Magpie was actually the bird spotted by the most participants across the country, so it’s Australia’s most familiar bird.
“Almost 50% 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”, Dooley said.
“Watching birds is fun, but it can also be very important. Birds tell us a lot about the environment we live in and keeping track of them helps us take the pulse of the environment.
“The Aussie Bird Count is about having fun and getting to know the birds around us a bit better. But it’s also about helping Aussies turn an interest in birds into a hobby that provides valuable information”, he concluded.
The 2025 Aussie Bird Count will take place from 20-26 October.
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