An unusual campaign is unfolding in schools and parks across Australia: children and adults spend 20 minutes outdoors counting the birds around them. Already by 23 October 2026, participants have recorded more than 3,7 million individuals, and the organizers at BirdLife Australia are confident that the final tally will surpass last year's record of 5 million.
The "Aussie Bird Count" runs from 19 to 25 October and has become the country's largest citizen science project. Anyone can join via the app or website: simply choose a location — from a schoolyard to a bus stop — and record every bird spotted. Last year, around 64 thousand people took part in the count, submitting more than 150 thousand reports and recording 621 species.
Schools are joining in with particular enthusiasm. At Cedars Christian College in Wollongong, teacher Karen Jooste has built birdwatching into her maths, writing and environmental studies lessons. Younger students not only count magpies and lorikeets but also keep diaries, draw pictures and discuss why some species adapt to cities while others disappear. The school grounds are home to families of Australian magpies, rainbow lorikeets, wood ducks and even a family of tawny frogmouths with chicks.
According to the organizers, one in six Australian birds is threatened with extinction. The count helps reveal how urbanisation and climate change affect populations. Many observations come from cities and suburbs, where the Australian magpie, rainbow lorikeet and noisy miner are common. At the same time, the data show that small woodland birds are increasingly being pushed out of their usual habitats.
Taking part requires no special knowledge: the app suggests common species within a 10 km radius and lets you search for birds by size, shape and colour. The organizers note that even brief observations during lunch or while waiting for transport provide valuable information. This year, a surge of activity is expected over the final weekend before the count closes at midnight on 25 October.
Such projects show that a connection with nature begins with simple attention to what is happening outside the window. Regular observation not only helps gather data but also allows people to notice how the world around them is changing and to take part in its conservation.
