Have a hoot taking part in next week’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count

You don’t need to be a birdwatcher to help collect valuable data for Bird Life Australia next week.

The Aussie Backyard Bird Count relies on as many people as possible counting the birds they see in their own backyard for 20 minutes.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said taking part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count was an easy way to lend Bird Life Australia a hand.

“All you have to do is spend 20 minutes in your backyard, local park, school oval or any other outdoor space and use the Aussie Backyard Bird Count app or form to record the types of birds you see,” Cr Hill said.

“There’s a field guide you can use to help identify birds, so you don’t have to be a bird expert to take part.

“Once you submit your bird count information through the app or website, it will be added to the information from thousands of other Australians to help form Bird Life Australia’s data.”

Cr Hill said Townsville was lucky to be home to a vast array of birdlife.

“On any given day in Townsville you’ll see birds ranging from rainbow lorikeets and cockatoos and all the way through to ibises and magpies,” she said.

“It’s wonderful to have this kind of biodiversity across our city, and it’s something we shouldn’t take for granted.”

She said the Aussie Backyard Bird Count was a fun activity to get family and friends involved in.

“It can be as simple as just stepping outside for 20 minutes to see how many birds you spot, or you can make a little event out of it by packing a backyard picnic, or making it a game for your kids to compete and see how many birds they can spot,” she said.

To register and go into the running for prizes, head to the Aussie Bird Count website.