Backyard Bird Survey Week

Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae This survey started in 2007 and provides valuable information about our bird life around New Zealand. It’s really simple to do:

  • Spend one hour counting birds in your home garden, local park, or school ground sometime during the week 29 June – 7 July
  • Record the highest number of each bird species you see at one time during the hour.
  • Use this print form (which you can fax or post in) or this online form to record what you see.

If you’re not sure what the names of the birds are you can look at this handy guide.

You can sit either inside (e.g. in the living room at home or classroom at school looking out the window) or outside (e.g. on a deck or garden seat). If you are outside, be careful not to frighten birds away from your garden. If you have a bird feeder or water bath, you may like to watch an area of your garden that includes that feature. You don’t have to be able to see your whole garden, just part of your garden.

 

Important: Record the highest number of each bird species you see at one time during the hour and record on the form. If you see 1 blackbird early in your observation period and you write that down but later see 2 blackbirds at the same time, then cross out the 1 and write down 2. And so on. Do not record the total number you see at different times over the period you’re watching because the same birds may come and go several times. For example, if you see 2 blackbirds at one time, then later see 1 blackbird the total you have seen at one time is 2 not 3. The latter blackbird may have been the same as one of the two you saw earlier. You are allowed to count birds you hear but do not see, as well as birds flying or calling overhead.