A band of Sydney residents are preparing to venture into their backyards, parks and open spaces, armed with their smartphones to snap any feathered creatures they see.
But it isn’t the latest edition of Pokémon Go that will have them moving – it’s the 2016 Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count from Birdlife Australia as part of National Bird Week from 17 to 23 October.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s annual bird count was joining forces with the nationwide event this year to help increase knowledge of birdlife trends across Australia.
“The Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count is one of the biggest citizen science projects in Australia, giving residents the chance to help us plan our support for the local bird population,” the Lord Mayor said.
“This year we’ve teamed up with Birdlife Australia as part of a nationwide effort to understand trends for bird numbers and movements across the country.
“Sydney is home to a wide variety of birds from the popular rainbow lorikeets and noisy miners to more uncommon species such as the superb fairy wren, spotted pardalote and the New Holland honeyeater.
“The City’s Urban Ecology Strategic Action Plan has been in place since 2014 to help increase the numbers of birds like the superb fairy wren, which were once a common sight across the inner city suburbs.
“The Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count will help us learn where our efforts have been most successful and areas where we can encourage more of our feathered friends.”
Those interested in taking part in the Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count can download the Aussie Bird Count app or enter their results via the Submit a Count tab at aussiebirdcount.org.au.
The user-friendly app features pictures of birds native to the area, making it easy for novice birdwatchers to identify their sightings. Visitors to the website can see live statistics on the number of people taking part and the number of birds and species counted in your neighbourhood and the whole of Australia.
The City will also be holding three workshops throughout Bird Week:
- Breakfast with the Birds – 19 October 2016
- Urban nature & birdlife photography workshop – 21 October 2016
- Gardening for Small Birds Workshop – 22 October 2016
For interviews with the Lord Mayor, contact Matt Levinson on 0499 319 385 or mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au