BirdLife Australia’s annual Aussie Bird Count is vital in monitoring the bird species currently roaming Aussie skies.
Last October, 57,000 Australians participated, tallying more than 3 million birds!
Leading the count, the vibrant Rainbow Lorikeet is once again the most frequently sighted species. Since the count began in 2014, the rainbow lorikeet has been the most seen – that’s over 10 years of reigning supreme!
The top four birds observed over the past eleven years have remained consistent, with the Noisy Miner, Australian Magpie, and Sulphur-crested Cockatoo following the Rainbow Lorikeet. The Aussie magpie reached new levels this year, with one in two Aussies spotting the black and white swooper.
Across the nation, here were the most spotted birds:
- Rainbow lorikeet
- Noisy miner
- Australian magpie
- Sulphur-crested cockatoo
- Welcome swallow
- Galah
- Silver gull
- Australian white ibis
- House sparrow
- Little corella
Surprisingly, only one bird in the top ten is an introduced species – the house sparrow. Found mostly in the east, south and north of Australia, they mostly inhabit in cultivated areas, and urban spaces where humans live (no wonder it’s so frequently spotted!). The beloved ‘bin chicken’ also made it to the top again this year, after its inaugural appearance in 2024.
The most interesting part of the Aussie Bird Count is the regional and state variations in bird population. While the top ten are all heavily featured throughout the country, no states or territories shared the same top three birds. This shows an amazing avian diversity!
Why does the Aussie Bird Count exist?
So, why count birds? BirdLife Australia relies on this data to shape its Bird Conservation Strategy, aiming to halt bird extinctions by 2032 and overall bird declines by 2050.
The insights gleaned from the count help identify challenges facing native birds, including declining reporting rates of smaller, specialist species such as Silvereyes and fairy-wrens.
The Aussie Bird Count celebrates Australia’s rich birdlife and is a crucial tool in safeguarding the future of its avian inhabitants.
While all of the birds in the top are quite clearly thriving and successful species, there are still many threats that they face. From habitat loss to introduced species to mysterious diseases like Lorikeet Paralysis Syndrome, these problems could start to have an impact on our avian population. That’s why the Aussie Bird Count is such an important endeavour.
When is the 2025 Aussie Bird Count?
The next Birdlife Aussie Bird Count will run from the 20-26 of October in 2025. For citizen scientists who want to contribute before then, BirdLife Australia runs an online platform called Birdata, which contributes to the nonprofit’s year-round work.
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