No – we haven’t just made that up!
Aussie Backyard Bird Count Week is a real thing – and an exciting opportunity to learn more about the wildlife in your area while supporting necessary environmental research.
Keen to find out more? Read on!
What is Aussie Backyard Bird Count Week?
Aussie Backyard Bird Count Week takes place every year from the 17th to the 23rd of October. It encourages Aussies nationwide to get outside and take notice of their surroundings – particularly the birds! – for a great cause.
The campaign is organised by BirdLife Australia and aims to help them collect data to continue tracking and protecting native birds. The week is one of Australia’s largest conservation events that anyone, anywhere or any age, can participate in.
BirdLife has already expressed concerns about native birds across Australia, especially species of native parrots such as the Eastern Rosella and the Australian Ringneck.
The data collected nationally by everyday Aussies spotting the birds help BirdLife answer questions about migration, habitats and population growth.
How Can You Get Involved?
The best thing about Aussie Backyard Bird Count Week is that it’s SUPER easy to participate!
All you have to do is download the dedicated app and then commit to spending at least 20 minutes walking around your local areas. From residential streets and gardens to local parks, hiking trails and the beach – anywhere goes.
As you walk, take notice of the birds you see and hear around you, marking where you have spotted them in the app.
The app makes everything simple by letting you know what species of birds typically live in your local area, so you can scan the pictures and tick which ones you’ve seen. Each bird has a unique profile where you can learn more about them.
It’s the perfect excuse to let your inner Twitcher run free! And even if you don’t have the ‘Twitch’, it’s still a great chance to explore your local area and contribute valuable information for an important cause.
More than $10,000 worth of prizes are also being given away as part of this year’s count! Head to www.aussiebirdcount.org.au to learn more.
3 Unique Careers Working With Birds
You should know by now that we never highlight these campaigns without connecting them to a few unique career opportunities!
And when we stopped to think about jobs working with birds, we were left pretty stumped! So we definitely had to dive into this one. Here are a few we discovered:
1. Avian Veterinary Specialist
Vets help to diagnose, assess and make treatment recommendations across a wide range of small and large animals. Some may specialise in domestic pets, exotic pets, farming and agricultural animals – or of course, birds!
Working with birds requires a different specialist skill set than working with mammals. You could support bird owners with domestic pet birds, rehabilitation and bird sanctuaries, zoos, and bird-rearing facilities.
A love of all birds is vital, but so are people management and communication skills, as you’ll be working with a wide range of professionals and assisting pet owners.
2. Zoologist
Zoologists study ecology, behaviour and physiology of animals and their habitats that they specialise with. For some, this includes large and exotic birds and native and wild birds.
As a zoologist working with birds, you’ll study birds’ structures, characteristics, functions, ecology and environments to increase scientific knowledge and support conservation efforts. The role requires a lot of commitment and fieldwork, so you’ll need to be physically fit and willing to spend hours outside under different weather conditions.
It also requires a lot of patience but can ultimately be a very rewarding career for anyone with a passion for supporting and conserving native birdlife.
3. Avian Environmental Researcher
As an Avian Environmental Researcher, you’ll likely work closely with zoologists to better understand the birds you support. The main difference is you’ll focus more on the habitats and environments of the birds than the birds themselves. This can include tracking migration patterns, mating seasons, and population growth.
Part of your role may also include managing and supporting habitats following environmental trauma, such as bushfires and floods, to see what needs to be done to encourage bird populations to return to areas safely.
Explore More Animal Careers!
We know plenty of you are passionate animal lovers, and we also know that working with animals ranks highly as a top career choice for lots of young people!
We’ve put together a few great resources uncovering the wide range of roles and careers that involve working with all kinds of animals.
Check out our Animal Care industry profile and search the blog for more on this exciting and rewarding industry.
