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Program: Urban Birds

Birds in Schools

Birds in Schools is an environmental education project designed by BirdLife Australia and its Urban Birds Program. It teaches students to identify and monitor birds, explore their habitats and ultimately take action for local birdlife.

Photographed by Andrew Peacock

Children are more disconnected from nature than ever before. With birds as a focus, Birds in Schools plays a crucial role in connecting young people with nature, empowering them to protect birds, and nature, into the future.

Urban birds face many threats, including habitat loss, altered access to resources and exposure to predators. Through Birds in Schools, schools and students can take action to assist their local bird populations. Register your school or find out more today!

Educating the Next Generation of Conservationists

The Birds in Schools project provides teachers and students with the knowledge and tools to protect birds.

As part of Birds in Schools, students participate in:

  • Identifying birds in and around school grounds
  • Conducting bird surveys
  • Entering data collected into the Birdata database
  • Using their observational skills and their own ideas to develop and implement action plans to help their local birdlife

Action plans may include improving local habitats by planting native plants, installing nest boxes or bird baths and educating the local community on how to protect our urban birds.

Students are able to get outside and connect with nature. As a side benefit, mounting scientific evidence shows that birdwatching improves children’s ability to focus

Encouraging Educators to Take Action

Available online through BirdLife Australia’s e-learning platform, Birds in Schools provides lesson plans and resources to enable teachers across Australia to deliver education and action for birds.

As a result, teachers and students have enjoyed:

  • Increased interest and knowledge about birds and their habitats
  • The chance to contribute to a national citizen science program through recording data in Birdata, BirdLife Australia’s national bird survey database
  • The ability to act on local sustainability challenges
  • Improving bird habitats and green space at their schools
  • Training and support for teachers to deliver a quality environmental education program

Some schools have also had BirdLife Australia volunteers visit them to assist with lessons and bird surveys. As part of the Birds in Schools program, schools will use Birdata– BirdLife Australia’s database- as a platform to participate in citizen science.

Birds in Schools Registration Form

Name of contact teacher(Required)
Address of school(Required)
I would like to register for the Birds in Schools program(Required)
What term/s will you deliver BIS?(Required)
What action would you like to complete as part of the program?(Required)
Does your school leadership support your participation in Birds in Schools and the action that is planned?(Required)

Each participating teacher will be provided with their own login for our e-learning site.
Each participating teacher will be provided with their own login for our e-learning site.
Is your school classified as disadvantaged, rural/regional or remote?(Required)

Is your school is in the Mornington Peninsula local government area?(Required)

Related information

Program
Urban Birds

Urban sprawl has a huge impact on native birds. BirdLife Australia's Urban Bird Program protects birds and their habitats across our rapidly changing and expanding cities.

Event
Gang-gang Cockatoo Edu-Action Course

Take part in our free, online Gang-gang Cockatoo Edu-Action course and you'll learn how to make a real impact on saving this charismatic species.

Program
Birdata

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 18 million records (and counting).