Australia hosts massive citizen science bird count

The Aussie Bird Count, Australia’s largest citizen science event, is currently underway, with participants reporting sightings of over one million birds. The initiative involves citizens conducting 20-minute surveys in gardens, parks, and balconies to collect data on avian populations.

The resulting data assists researchers in monitoring ecosystem health, tracking population trends, and identifying species under threat, which is considered especially vital this year due to the presence of H5N1 bird flu.

In a related effort, the Australian Museum is working with University of Sydney students to digitize the extensive notebooks, drawings, and photographs of Michael Sharland, a prolific naturalist known by the alias ‘Peregrine’ who passed away in 1987.