Last year, 81 people across the Parkes Shire participated in the event, recording 2750 individual birds and 86 species. The Crested Pigeon was the most recorded species, followed by Apostlebirds and Galahs.
Parkes Shire Council is encouraging the Shire’s residents to get involved in Australia’s largest citizen science project by participating in the 2023 Aussie Bird Count, running from 16 to 22 October 2023.
To complete the Aussie Bird Count, participants are required to spend 20 minutes in their backyards recording and counting the birds and species they observe. Observations are submitted through the Aussie Bird Count app or online web form.
Parkes Shire Council’s Environment and Sustainability Officer, Michael Chambers, said that the Aussie Backyard Bird Count is a fun and safe activity that can be enjoyed by all ages and experience levels.
“This is a great opportunity for residents to explore the outdoors, whether it be on their own property or local, state, and national parks, and learn about the birds local to the Parkes Shire. Parkes Shire residents have embraced this event in past years, and we would love this trend to continue in 2023,” said Mr Chambers.
The 2022 Aussie Bird Count saw more than 77,000 Aussies take to their backyards and local green spaces to count more than 3.9 million birds from 620 species. Across New South Wales, the most recorded species, for the ninth year in a row, was the rainbow lorikeet, followed by Noisy Miners and Sulphur Crested Cockatoos.
Data obtained from the annual Aussie Bird Count will be provided in a report to Council, which will help increase environmental engagement among residents, inform land management decisions, and monitor the success of tree planting efforts across the Shire.
Register for the 2023 Aussie Bird Count at https://aussiebirdcount.org.au/