PORT Stephens residents recorded 188 bird species during last year’s Aussie Bird Count, and locals are being asked to get involved again this month.
The count runs from 19 to 25 October, with participants asked to spend 20 minutes recording birds in their backyard, a local park, bushland or along the waterfront.
BirdLife Australia’s Senior Advisor Public Relations Sean Dooley said 680 surveys were completed across Port Stephens in 2025.
The number of species recorded reflected the variety of local habitats, from beaches and wetlands to bushland and farming country.
The Hunter and Port Stephens regions were among Australia’s most bird-diverse regions, according to Hunter Bird Observers Club committee member and BirdLife Australia Regent Honeyeater Recovery Advisor, Mick Roderick.
The count also reaches places that regular birdwatchers may miss.
“The beauty of the Aussie Bird Count is that we get bird records from dozens of places that birdwatchers don’t normally go,” Mr Roderick said.
“This gives us an incredible spread across our region.”
Rainbow Lorikeets, Noisy Miners and Australian Magpies were the most frequently seen birds in Port Stephens during last year’s count.
However, Mr Dooley said national results were showing declines in smaller garden birds, including Willie Wagtails and Silvereyes, while some larger, more adaptable species were increasing.
Rainbow Lorikeets and Noisy Miners drive smaller birds away from areas where they had become established.
He encouraged residents to keep an eye out for Glossy Black Cockatoos, which have red tail markings, rather than the yellow of the more common Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo.
For those trying birdwatching for the first time, he suggested learning some bird calls.
“You will hear more species than you will see when you’re in the bush,” Mr Roderick said.
Residents can register at aussiebirdcount.org.au by clicking Register, signing in to or creating a myBirdLife account, and completing the registration.
The free Aussie Bird Count app includes tips for identifying birds, and participants can submit as many 20-minute counts as they wish during the week.
“Each Aussie Bird Count submitted is like a pixel in a large photo,” Mr Dooley said.
“The more pixels, the clearer the picture becomes.”
By Althea GUINSBERG
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