Member | Join now

By joining the biggest community of bird lovers in Australia, you can help us make a positive impact on the future of our native birdlife. The members of BirdLife Australia, along with our supporters and partners, have been powerful advocates for native birds and the conservation of their habitats since 1901.

We are also the meeting ground for everyone with an interest in birds from the curious backyard observer to the dedicated research scientist. It doesn’t matter what your interest in birds is or how much you know about them, your membership will offer you the opportunity to increase your awareness and enjoyment.

Birdlife Australia would be delighted to welcome you as a new member and we look forward to sharing our news and achievements with you throughout the coming year.

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Western Ground Parrot

@BirdlifeOz

Congrats to @BirdlifeOz member Patricia Ferguson for winning a Logan Eco Award for her countless hours working for birds & the environment!

The UK's first crane egg in four centuries has been laid! Congrats @WWTworldwide! http://t.co/3RhrEyjJfy

Is nowhere safe from shooting, grazing & logging? National Parks don't seem to be. We call for Fed protection now: http://t.co/CSUzaOTulb

Atlas & Birdata

A Long-term Monitoring Project

The Atlas is one of BirdLife Australia's greatest resources, allowing us to track changes in birds across the country. Since 1998 a dedicated band of over 7000 atlassers have amassed over 420,000 surveys, comprising over 7.1 million bird records.

Unlike most Atlases conducted around the world which collect data in grids, observers are asked to give the precise coordinates of where they undertook their survey. Knowing this information adds greatly to the value of the data and allows observers to go back to that precise location and conduct repeat surveys. With large numbers of observers collecting data, the Atlas provides a good insight into the changes in bird populations over time.

Atlassers have many opportunities to contribute, be it through repeat surveys or as part of general atlassing. The continued growth of the Atlas project depends upon the enthusiasm of existing Atlassers and the recruitment of new observers.

Anyone with an interest in birds can make an important contribution to our knowledge of Australian birds by getting involved in the project. 

Birdata

To support our atlassers and the Atlas database, BirdLife Australia developed Birdata birdata.com.au. This is a website devoted to the Atlas where atlassers can enter new data and gain feedback about their surveys and sites.

Birdata isn't just about data entry. At its core is sophisticated software that maps the distribution of every Australian bird. General bird lists for any part of the country are also available.

Atlassers should note that paper Atlas forms will continue to be used. Birdata provides an easy electronic data entry point for those that wish to use it, helps us preserve our resources, and allows information to be more readily available.

Need help entering your Atlas data into the Birdata website? Download Birdata 101 below.

Aims of the Atlas Project

  • Collect and analyse data on the distribution and relative abundance of Australia's bird species
  • Compare the distribution and abundance of bird species to the previous Atlas
  • Collect information on rare and threatened bird species
  • Involve the community in the conservation and monitoring of birds
  • Establish a foundation set of sites to explore relationships between birds and land management practice
  • To see how birds respond to changes in habitat
  • Investigate the effect of tree planting and revegetation programs on birds
  • Establish a foundation set of sites to monitor birds, including Ramsar sites and selected sites in a Directory of Important Wetlands
  • Examine regional and seasonal variation in the occurrence of bird species

Downloads

Birdata 101

All you need to know about entering data into the Birdata website