Take Part in the Annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count
Do you know your cuckoo from your currawong? Even if you don’t, there’s plenty of guidance for novice bird counters online, for the 10th annual Aussie Bird Count. Starts this Monday 16 October and runs all week.
As any local – bird watcher or not – will confirm enthusiastically, Jervis Bay has an incredibly diverse bird population. Sea birds, parrots, owls and eagles, not to mention the tiny varieties like wrens, we are also home to many endangered and threatened species.
The Jervis Bay KBA (Key Biodiversity Area) covers nearly 16,000 hectares and includes Beecroft Peninsular, and an area from Woollamia to Sussex Inlet, and a range of different habitats, including national parks and residential areas.
A distinctive red-feathered king parrot visits a Jervis Bay backyard. Photo: Samantha Tannous
Download Your Bird Checklist
To get an idea of what you will be looking for in your backyard, BirdLife Shoalhaven has a list of 400 birds on their website, along with suggested self-guided walks. For the Bird Count, you can pick any outdoor spot, so long as you check in on the app and count for 20 minutes. And while each count is a 20-minute session, you can count as many 20-minute blocks as you like.
We were surprised to learn that only 100,000-ish Aussies are regular bird-counters in this annual research project. But they count an extraordinary number of birds – in 2020, the 108,000 citizen scientists counted almost 5 million birds.
What Bird is That?
This year, the 10th anniversary, the organisers are hoping to break records in their efforts to raise the awareness and love of our bird life. Here at JB Weekend, we have signed up for the first time and will be using all the online help available to identify the right birds! The Bird Life Facebook page has handy videos that address commonly confused birds – is it a pigeon or a dove? A miner or a myna? One we know for sure is the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, who chomp up the banksia cones in our neighbour’s driveway. Another heard lately is the fantail cuckoo with a descending trill.
A pair of binoculars is a must-have for noticing the nuances of our avian residents, and the best local place to pick up your own pair is conveniently in the heart of Huskisson at Nature Lodge Optics – the shop is right near the giant deck chair on Owen Street, you can’t miss it.
Jervis Bay bird watcher Robyn Hill scans the bushland near her home. Photo: Samantha Tannous
Guided Beginners Walk This Week
To celebrate the Bird Count, Bird Life Shoalhaven is gathering on Wednesday 18 October at the Jervis Bay Brewing Co for Beers and Birds, from 5.30pm. The group also hosts a range of guided walks and introductions to bird watching, throughout the year.
There’s a great beginner’s walk happening during Bird Count week, which includes how to use your binoculars properly! The group will meet at Greenfields Beach picnic area in Vincentia, on Thursday 19 October. Reserve your free ticket, and why not download the Bird Count app while you’re online.
Games and Prizes for Bird Counters
Count alone or count with friends. Help break records for participation and number of birds counted. If you need any more reasons to take part, there are cool games available online, like Bird Bingo, and prizes for participation. Join the citizen scientists and you’ll be hooked on our feathered friends for life.
#AussieBirdCount
