Monday, 7 April 2025
The results of Australia’s largest citizen science event, BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Bird Count are in. More than 57,000 participants counted an astonishing 4.1 million birds as part of the week-long national event in October last year.
The results are available on the Aussie Bird Count website. No two states shared the same top three birds, a reminder of how integral birds are to the unique character and identity of each state.
“Australia is a big place, full of diversity, and as you move across the continent, it’s fascinating to see the variety of birds change,” said Sean Dooley, Senior Public Affairs Advisor at BirdLife Australia. “But I think the birds that remind us of home are very special to us. The dawn-chorus at home always feels like home.
“Birds are responding to the way we have changed our environment. The most numerous birds reported in the Aussie Bird Count are the ones that adapt better to these changes. If we want to ensure we can enjoy seeing and hearing a greater variety of birds, including smaller bush birds, we need to continue the great work already underway to create more diverse habitat in both urban and regional spaces.” — Sean Dooley, Senior Public Affairs Advisor BirdLife Australia.
The vibrant Rainbow Lorikeet, a common sight in parks and gardens in Australia’s most populous cities, reigned supreme as the most numerous bird recorded across the country. Noisy Miners, a native honeyeater sometimes mistaken for the introduced Common Myna, came in second.
The Australian Magpie swooped into third place, but while there may have been more rainbows streaking our skies, when it comes to the bird seen by the most people, the result is black and white. “The Australian Magpie was actually the bird spotted by the most participants across the country, so it’s Australia’s most familiar bird. Almost 50% of participants saw a Magpie when they did the Aussie Bird Count, which is a reminder of how closely connected we are to this beautiful, intelligent bird,” said Sean.
“Watching birds is fun, but it can also be very important. Birds tell us a lot about the environment we live in and keeping track of them helps us take the pulse of the environment. The Aussie Bird Count is about having fun and getting to know the birds around us a bit better. But it’s also about helping Aussies turn an interest in birds into a hobby that provides valuable information.
“At BirdLife Australia, we love seeing so many Australians getting excited about birds each year. If you had fun taking part in last year’s Count and can’t wait until October, we’d love you to join our active community of volunteer birdwatchers who have already contributed more than 25 million records to our Birdata platform. It’s free and it helps BirdLife Australia with our scientific research and conservation work. Your hobby can really make a big difference.”
BirdLife Australia Media Enquiries: Please contact James Johnson on 0423 659 324 or at media@birdlife.org.au.
By telling us about the birds you’ve seen within a 20-minute period, you will help BirdLife Australia develop an understanding of local birds while getting to know the wildlife on your doorstep.
To save birds, we need reliable data. Birdata is where we collect, keep and share this information. Compiled almost entirely by citizen scientists, Birdata is Australia's largest and longest running database for birds, with more than 22 million records (and counting).
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