Australia’s biggest bird count begins today, with millions of sightings expected

Key points

• Australians are being invited to spend 20 minutes observing and recording birds in their backyards, parks and neighbourhoods. The 2026 Aussie Bird Count, organised by BirdLife Australia, runs from Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October.
• Last year, nearly 64,000 people counted more than five million birds across 621 species. The Australian Magpie was the most frequently spotted species, while the Rainbow Lorikeet recorded the highest total count.
• Participation is free through the Aussie Bird Count app or an online form, and requires no specialist knowledge.