Apply now! Applications close on Monday 4th May 2026.
BirdLife Australia is saving birds and the natural ecosystems on which their survival depends.
To achieve BirdLife Australia’s vision that by 2050, birds and nature are valued, conserved and restored, sustaining a healthy planet for the benefit of all people, we must multiply our impact by strengthening our existing partnerships, establishing new ones and collaborating with local communities to lead change.
BirdLife Australia Community Grants support this by empowering passionate Australian groups to act for birds, with up to $10,000 in funding for projects that align with BirdLife Australia’s Bird Conservation Strategy.
In 2026, the Community Grants Program is divided into two streams: Community Participation and Volunteering and Conservation and Applied Research.
Stream 1 provides funding for projects which encourage community engagement and volunteering in the conservation, protection and advocacy for Australian birds and their habitats.
Stream 2 provides funding for conservation projects which conserve birds at a local or landscape scale; or contribute applied research into bird conservation, and projects which assist in meeting conservation strategy goals.
If your project does not directly include live birds or habitat work, you should apply for Stream 1. If your project focusses on on-ground works, direct contact with live birds or science, with or without a community engagement, outreach or volunteer participation aspect, you should apply for a Stream 2 grant.
If you are unsure which stream your project falls under, please contact us and a member of our team will get in touch to discuss it with you.
We are looking for projects that support the implementation of BirdLife Australia’s Bird Conservation Strategy.
Please note: if you are seeking funding for your project from multiple sources concurrently, in the event that you secure funding from another source for the same costs, please notify BirdLife Australia promptly to discuss.
Any community group or volunteer organisation which meets the listed criteria can apply for a BirdLife Australia Community Grant, including BirdLife Australia branches and action groups. Your grant application will be reviewed by BirdLife Australia’s Community Grants Coordinator and Community Grants and Awards Committee to ensure eligibility.
Please note that we will only accept one submission for a Community Grant per round from an individual, community group or branch.
Projects or activities which are not eligible to receive funding in 2026 are:
BirdLife Australia is striving to achieve an enormous, world-changing goal. To protect birds from extinction, we must empower communities who want to protect their patch and address threats to birds. It requires the community to demonstrate its love for birds and nature, being empowered to come together to work to protect habitats, champion birds and create the conditions for change.
Stream 1 provides funding for projects that encourage community engagement and volunteering to appreciate, conserve and speak up for birds.
BirdLife Australia prides itself on finding evidence-based solutions to achieve fundamental change in saving birds. To succeed, we partner with First Nations people, local communities and our dedicated volunteer network on projects which use rigorous scientific data to achieve outcomes. Stream 2 provides funding for conservation projects that protect birds and their habitats at a local or landscape scale; conduct research into bird conservation; or assist in meeting conservation strategy goals.
We strongly suggest that you contact us to discuss your project ahead of time. Projects that align with our existing work and collaborate with staff on outcomes for our conservation work have a higher success rate. Contact us to be connected with the relevant staff member.
Results and data generated by Stream 2 projects are expected to be made available in one of BirdLife Australia’s scientific publications. Support for publication can be provided by the Science and Conservation Planning team if required.
BirdLife Australia Community Grants have supported a diverse range of projects in bird conservation and research and community engagement. Explore some recent examples below.
BirdLife Southern NSW – Support to Inaugural Annual Capertee Valley Bird Festival
Guided bird walks, seminars, workshops and bird-themed community events for adults and children over three days.
Kelly Stubbs – Building a Birding Community in the Snowy Monaro
A series of community-led bird conservation events, including citizen science, habitat improvement and the establishment of a network of dedicated accessible birding sites.
Figs May Fly – Shared Skies
A workshop and participatory puppet performance that invites young people to explore the meaning of community through the collective movement and behaviour of flocks of birds.
Healing Hands Wildlife Care – Beyond the Bait
An initiative to reduce the harmful impact of rodenticides on native bird populations through education, community engagement, and advocacy.
Lockyer Upland Catchments inc. – Monitoring Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami lathami) nesting habitat to support breeding success
To increase understanding of Glossy Black-Cockatoo ecology and survival by delivering a citizen-led study into their breeding and nesting behaviour and the major threats impacting on breeding and nesting.
Friends of the Hooded Plover Kangaroo Island – Coastal bird habitat protection
To engage beach users in active conservation of beach-nesting birds at critical breeding sites, by raising awareness of the birds breeding on the beach, as well as providing advice on how to actively assist the birds.
Nepalese Association of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment in Australia – Wings of Change: Community Volunteering for Bird Protection
To empower and engage young people—particularly those from multicultural backgrounds, including Nepalese-Australian youth and students—in hands-on bird conservation efforts through education, community volunteering, and ecological restoration.
Conservation Partners – Predator control to increase Plains-wanderer survival on a highly significant farm in Northern Victoria
To implement targeted fox control and monitoring as part of a broader threat abatement plan for the critically endangered Plains-wanderer on a significant property in the Patho Plains.
Caitlin Dagg – Things That Go Hoot in the Night: Acoustic Monitoring of Powerful Owl – (Ninox strenua) Breeding Success in the Northern Beaches of Sydney
To trial the use of passive acoustic recorders to monitor Powerful Owl breeding success in the Northern Beaches of Sydney.
Friends of Bool and Hacks Lagoons – Hoo’s there? Revealing Powerful Owl use of Limestone Coast woodlands with acoustic monitoring
To deploy arrays of acoustic monitors across key woodland sites in the Limestone Coast to detect Powerful Owl and assess their current distribution.
Brisbane Sustainability Agency – Northern Ponds Bird Viewing and Survey Initiative
To establish a new bird survey transect and construct new bird watching areas over the manmade waterbodies at Archerfield Wetlands.
Brisbane South Toy Library – Education and community engagement through play
The purchase of toys, games, puzzles and other play resources that focus on birds and their environment.
Mooloolah River Waterwatch and Landcare – Action for Glossies in the Mooloolah Valley
Glossy Black counts; workshops and walks; project poster and children’s activity; development of five habitat enhancement plans with plan implementation commenced on two properties.
Connecting Country – Birding for diversity: raising awareness of woodland birds and promoting accessibility, inclusiveness and connection to nature in Central Victoria
A “Rainbow Birdwalk” community event run in partnership between BirdLife Castlemaine and Castlemaine Pride.
Chase Alive Discovery Volunteers – Saving ‘Syd’ Glossy – Raising the profile and mapping data of Glossy Black-Cockatoos in Sydney Basin
Multiple public exhibitions with 92 NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service volunteers trained to present to visitors; mapping of Glossy Black-cockatoos and their feed trees.
Upper Goulburn Landcare Network – Upper Goulburn Woodland Restoration Project
Volunteers enhanced critical habitat for woodland birds with replanting. Guided bird walk, Birds on Farms presentation, properties identified to be included in the Birds on Farms program.
Northern Yarra Landcare Network – Yarra Ranges Farm Dam Restoration Project
To promote widespread understanding amongst landholders about the benefits of farm dam restoration and provide practical examples of best-practice farm dam management in a community-led model.
BirdLife Top End – Darwin Harbour Shorebird Summit and launch of the Migratory Shorebird Site Action Plan
Farewell Shorebirds event; federal politicians lobbied to prioritise shorebirds; launch of the Darwin Harbour Migratory Shorebird Site Action Plan at the Darwin Harbour Shorebird Summit.
Halls Creek Wildlife conservancy – Halls Creek Night Parrot Conservancy Project
Monitoring of Night Parrot habitat for threats, invasive predator monitoring (through cameras) and control (mostly cats) in partnership with pastoralist.
The Forktree Project – Forktree Bird Habitat Initiative
Restoration of habitat for woodland birds and Yellow-tailed Black-cockatoo and bird and lepidopteran survey.
Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute – Saving the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area Woodland Honeyeaters with Mapping and Mistletoe
Mapping of Needle-leaf Mistletoe for seed collection (important for Regent Honeyeaters).
Northern Plains Conservation Management Network – Mapping critical Plains-wanderer habitat across the Patho Plains of Victoria – surveys of vegetation of potential Plains-wanderer habitat.
Engaged landholders and farmers to discuss sustainable grassland management.
Complete the ‘Community Grant Application’ form (below). Applications close on Monday 4th May 2026. The Application must be completed and signed by the person/people responsible for delivering the project.
For more information on submitting your grant application, read our Community Grants How To and FAQ document.
BirdLife Australia will acknowledge receipt of your application.
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