Your Birds in Backyards Survey Data in Action

Contributing to science and conservation

When you record birds in your garden, courtyard, or local patch as part of Birds in Backyards, you’re not just enjoying a moment with nature, you’re contributing to science and conservation. That simple act of watching and recording helps build one of Australia’s most unique citizen science datasets, shedding light on how birds use our urban and suburban spaces.

So, where does your data go? And how does it make a difference?

What do we learn from the data?

Birds in Backyards data plays a vital role in shaping how we communicate and advocate for urban birds.

We use these insights in education and outreach, including our Habitat Gardening for Birds course, and in conversations with land managers about urban design, backyard habitat improvement, and conservation planning.

Examples of some of our findings include:

Native plants and trees matter.

Native species like Eastern Spinebills, New Holland Honeyeaters, and Superb Fairy-wrens were significantly more likely to occur in gardens with mostly native vegetation.

Shrubs are essential for small birds.

Higher shrub coverage increased the chances of seeing species like Silvereyes and Fairy-wrens, which depend on dense understorey for foraging and nesting.

Some species show mixed responses.

Magpie-larks, for example, prefer open lawn for foraging but are also common in gardens with dense shrubs—likely using different spaces for different needs.

Exotic plants can tip the balance.

Introduced birds such as Common Mynas and Spotted Doves were more common in gardens with exotic or no vegetation.

Feeding birds has ecological impacts.

Daily meat provision increased the presence of aggressive carnivores like Pied Currawongs and Grey Butcherbirds, but reduced the occurrence of smaller insectivores.

Proximity to bushland influences bird communities.

Gardens within 500m–5km of remnant vegetation supported higher reporting rates of many species, suggesting these areas are crucial stepping stones for birds.

However some birds rely on bushland nearby.

Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos were most likely in gardens within 50 m of remnant vegetation, underscoring the importance of protecting nearby native habitat.

Pets make a difference.

Dogs increased the presence of some species like Magpie-larks, while cats significantly reduced the chance of seeing birds like Satin Bowerbirds.

This kind of detailed, habitat-specific data helps us give practical advice—like what to plant, how much lawn to keep, and how to manage feeding to support the birds people love. It also helps ensure urban conservation actions are targeted and evidence-based.

How others are using the data?

Researchers and students around the country have drawn on the Birds in Backyards dataset to explore complex questions about how birds live and struggle to thrive in our built environments. Here are just a few examples of projects that we have collaborated on:

Decreasing Diversity in Backyards – PhD Research by Carly Campbell

Carly Campbell’s PhD at Griffith University highlighted a troubling trend: declining bird diversity in urban backyards across Australia. Using Birds in Backyards data, she showed that this decline is often hidden from view because common, aggressive species like Noisy Miners dominate the spaces we regularly observe. Her work sparked conversations about the importance of habitat complexity and protecting less dominant species in our cities. Read more: https://news.griffith.edu.au/2022/08/17/decreasing-backyard-bird-diversity-flies-under-the-radar/

What’s on the Menu? – Karen Tong’s Research on Feeding Practices

Karen Tong (University of Melbourne) explored how backyard feeding influences bird communities. Drawing on five years of Birds in Backyards data from 589 sites across Greater Sydney, her study found that:

• Meat feeding increased carnivores but decreased insectivores and small birds.
• Seed feeding benefited granivores and frugivores and had a positive impact on small bird presence.

Her research revealed that while feeding birds is widespread, it can unintentionally favour aggressive species, making it harder for vulnerable or small birds to persist. It underscores the need for informed guidance on how to feed birds responsibly and advice on switching to other more beneficial behaviours, like gardening for birds.

Public vs Private Green Spaces – Yifan Wang’s Urban Ecology Research

Yifan Wang, also from the University of Melbourne, used Birds in Backyards and broader Birdata records to compare bird communities in private gardens versus public green spaces in Melbourne. She found:

• Public green spaces supported higher bird diversity and more sensitive species.
• Private gardens often lacked insectivores, nectarivores, and small native birds in general.

Her research makes a strong case for protecting and enhancing public green infrastructure, as private gardens alone may not be enough to support diverse bird communities.

Wetlands and Garden Birds – Jackie Lin’s Ongoing PhD Research

Currently at Griffith University, PhD candidate Jackie Lin is using Birds in Backyards data to examine how proximity to urban wetlands influences bird communities in gardens across the Gold Coast and Brisbane. His work will help us understand how different types of urban habitats interact and how we might better protect and manage wetlands in our cities for the good of the birds and for us too.

Thank You for Contributing

Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just starting out, every observation you submit through Birds in Backyards matters. These studies, and many more, are only possible because people like you take the time to share what they see. So next time you spot an Australian Magpie warbling at dawn or fairy-wren flitting through your hedge, know that your notes could be part of the next breakthrough in urban bird conservation.