Last year, a total of 228 community members in Murrindindi Shire took part in the Aussie Backyard Bird Count (ABBC) – a 37% increase over the last four years.
Murrindindi Shire Council has been participating in the ABBC since 2015. Each year, participation has grown and last year’s count saw 15,549 birds and 146 different species recorded during a one-week period.
Council’s Resource Recovery and Environment Councillor Karine Haslam encouraged the community to keep up the good work and said the ABBC is a great way for many people to get outside and connect with nature.
‘It’s one of the largest citizen science projects in Australia. By spending just 20 minutes observing and counting birds in your backyard, garden, local park, urban waterway or even your town centre, you can provide a wealth of information to Birdlife Australia about trends in our bird communities and the health of the environment.
‘It’s wonderful to see the count gaining some momentum in our Shire. We live in a truly amazing part of the world, and we have some fascinating bird life to observe in our Shire.
‘The Sulphur-crested Cockatoo was the most commonly listed species within the Shire, with 60% of participants reporting a sighting. This was followed closely by the Australian Magpie and the Crimson Rosella.
‘There were three bird species recorded with a classification of Near-threatened (Brown Treecreeper, Nankeen Night-Heron, Azure Kingfisher), three with a classification of Vulnerable (White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Australasian Shoveler, Musk Duck), and two with a classification of Endangered (Freckled Duck, Little Egret) in Victoria. There were also 23 native bird species recorded only once, with four of these species classified as threatened in Victoria.
‘European colonisation has significantly impacted the conservation status of many Australia birds. Approximately 234 species of Australia birds are now classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as Extinct, Threatened with extinction, or Near-threatened.
‘It is critical that we gain an understanding of where these threatened species persist so that we can implement appropriate management and conservation actions in these areas. The Aussie Backyard Bird Count provides an opportunity for community members to contribute to this important work’, Cr Haslam said.
To read the 2021 ABBC Results for Murrindindi Shire, . The next ABBC will take place from 17 – 23 October 2022.
