Embrace your inner birdwatcher with the Aussie Bird Count

Maitland City Council is encouraging residents to head outdoors, connect with nature and get to know local birdlife when the annual Aussie Bird Count returns this October.

Coinciding with National Bird Week from Monday 14 to Sunday 20 October, the Aussie Bird Count calls upon nature enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to observe and count the birds around them to help BirdLife Australia develop a greater understanding of local birds.

‘Participating is easy,’ Maitland City Council’s Manager Environment and Sustainability Catherine Pepper said. ‘All you need to do is spend 20 minutes outside and count the different bird species you see, whether you're in your backyard, at the river, visiting the park or enjoying one of our local reserves.

‘You can submit your results on the free Aussie Bird Count app, which features a handy bird finder tool to help you identify local birds, or via the Aussie Bird Count website.’

Maitland residents can gear up by borrowing a birdwatching kit from Maitland City, East Maitland, Rutherford and Thornton Libraries, which contain useful tools such as binoculars, observation sheets and a bird identification booklet.

Council’s Backyard Bird Survey dashboard, which can be accessed at mait.city/BackyardBirdSurvey, makes recent Aussie Bird Count data available to the public and is used to help Council better understand local biodiversity.

In 2023, more than 24,400 birds and 165 species were counted in the Maitland LGA across 687 surveys completed by 179 participants.

This included 34 sightings of Latham’s Snipe, a wetland bird that breeds in Japan and Russia and flies 8,500 km to eastern Australia each year to spend its non breeding season feasting on tasty critters in mudflats and shallow open water.

To find out how to get involved in the Aussie Bird Count, visit aussiebirdcount.org.au. For more information about local bird count events and to book your spot, visit mait.city/AussieBirdCount.

Birdwatching events during October

Nature Book Week at East Maitland Library, Monday 14 October, 11.00am

Bring a picnic and enjoy stories, arts and crafts, a group bird count and a self guided bird walk.

Great Aussie Bird Count Survey and Talk at Maitland Regional Art Gallery, Thursday 17 October, 10.00am

Learn more about spotting local birdlife at a talk with bird expert and seasoned observer Mick Roderick from BirdLife Australia, followed by a count around the grounds. Complimented by MRAG’s ongoing Twitcher exhibition, dedicated to celebrating birds in art through a diverse lineup of Australian artists.