Birds in Backyards survey a valuable home activity during coroanvirus restrictions

Birdlife Australia is encouraging residents to spend time bird watching in their backyards and record their findings as part of the Birds in Backyards survey.

Data submitted by birdwatchers across Australia, including in Ballarat, provides information on urban birds and how gardens can provide habitat.

The Courier nature writer and Birdlife Ballarat member Roger Thomas said participating in the survey was a fantastic learning opportunity.

"I am sure people will notice things they haven't seen before in their backyard," he said.

"I have enjoyed so far seeing a pair of Robins in my bird bath, Eastern Spinebills in flowering sages and we had a White-faced Heron flying low over the backyard, so it got on the list too."

Autumn is a season of migration for birds.

Birdlife Australia said the fire season has meant many bird communities have lost refuge and resources, pushing them to their limits.

There have been accounts of unusual birds turning up in unexpected places or at the extremes of their range, movement the organisation is interested in tracking.

Birdlife Ballarat committee member Ian Ashton said citizen science was an important component of wildlife research.

"Bird watching as a hobby has contributed to our knowledge of birds not just here in Australia but all over the world," he said.

"It is not all done by scientists. A lot of information is gathered by normal people.

"It is very important that those who can take part in bird surveys, even if it is only in your backyard."

Birdlife Ballarat usually concentrates its surveying efforts at Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary in Linton, but with COVID-19 restrictions and cancelled outings, members are surveying in their backyards throughout April.

Mr Ashton said some members had seen up to 30 different bird species in their backyards in urban Ballarat.

He said gardens with native plants, water and a variety of heights and flowering plants and shrubs would attract more birds, but bird watching was possible in any backyard that had some trees or shrubs.

"I think it is an important thing to plant for wildlife," Mr Ashton said.

"We have lost so much habitat in Victoria and parts of New South Wales in these recent bushfires.

"I think a lot of organisations, including Birdlife Australia, are still coming to terms with what the effects of those fires were. Birds which were not threatened or not close to being threatened might be now because of the loss of habitat.

"There is a lot of work to be done in assessing what has been affected, so if we can provide habitat in our gardens that is a great thing."

Information on bird watching and surveying is available on the Birdlife Australia and Birds in Backyards website, including access to a poster that can help identify birds.

Birds in Backyards will host a webinar providing tips on how to identify birds and complete the survey using the Birdata platform on April 15 and April 17 at 7pm. Register your interest here.

You don't have to know the names of all birds to take part. The Birdata portal and app provides a list of birds and photos and there is also the Bird Finder tool.

Families are encouraged to get involved with their children as a fun and educational activity to do at home.

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