Aussie Bird Count With Kids: A Gentle Bird Week Guide

The Aussie Bird Count runs from 19 to 25 October 2026, and doing it with little kids is simple: spend 20 minutes in your backyard, a park or even at a window, watch for birds together, and a grown-up records what you see in the free app or on the web form. No expert knowledge is needed, and you can count as many times as you like during the week (Aussie Bird Count).

Below is a gentle plan that works for toddlers and preschoolers, the ten birds you're most likely to spot, one true fact for each, and a calm activity for afterwards.

What is the Aussie Bird Count?

The Aussie Bird Count is run by BirdLife Australia during National Bird Week. It's a citizen science event: everyday people count the birds around them, and the results help build a picture of Australia's birds. BirdLife says the count is "for all ages" and you can do it from a window, backyard, local park, school yard, beach or farm (BirdLife Australia).

It's a big event. In 2025, 64,000 Australians took part and a record 5 million birds were counted during the week (BirdLife Australia).

Bird Week has a long history with children, too. The first Bird Day was held in Victoria's state schools on 29 October 1909, when afternoon lessons were set aside so pupils could learn about birds (Australian Culture). The Gould League, formed the same year, went on to introduce generations of school children to birds (State Library Victoria).

How to do the count, step by step

Register. Sign up on the Aussie Bird Count website and download the free app, or plan to use the web form.
Pick your spot. Choose one outdoor place you can stay in for 20 minutes.
Start the timer. Watch and listen for 20 minutes, noting each bird you see.
Use the bird finder. The app has a built-in "bird finder" to help you name birds you're unsure of.
Submit your count. Send it through the app or the web form. Then do another one tomorrow if you like.

A gentle plan for little kids

Twenty minutes is a long time for a two year old. These small tweaks keep it relaxed and fun.

Choose an easy spot

An open park or backyard with a few trees works better than thick bushland. The Sector, an early childhood news site, suggests picking a place ahead of time "where you know there are some really common and easy to spot birds" (The Sector). A picnic rug gives everyone a home base.

Give everyone a job

Little ones love a role. Try:

Bird spotter: points and says "bird!"
Bird counter: counts how many on the fence or lawn
Sound listener: closes their eyes and listens for calls
Recorder: the grown-up who taps the app

The Sector suggests roles like "bird spotter" and "bird counter", and notes there's "no need to read or write" for children to enjoy birds.

Warm up with pictures and sounds

Before you head out, look at pictures of a magpie, a lorikeet and a galah together, and play their calls. Copying the sounds is half the fun, and it helps little ones know what to look for.

Let them wander in and out

If your toddler drifts off to dig in the sandpit after five minutes, that's fine. Keep counting yourself and call them back when a big flock arrives. The count is still valid, and they'll still feel part of it.

Keep it cheerful

Talk about what the birds are doing: eating, singing, having a bath. Young children don't need to hear about threats to birds right now. The Sector puts it simply: "It is important not to overwhelm or frighten them of course."

The 10 birds you're most likely to see

These were the most commonly seen birds in the 2025 count (BirdLife Australia). Turn the list into a spotting game and tick them off as you go.

Rank	Bird	Look for
1	Australian Magpie	Black and white, walking on grass
2	Rainbow Lorikeet	Bright blue, green, orange, in noisy flocks
3	Noisy Miner	Grey with a yellow patch near the eye
4	Sulphur-crested Cockatoo	Big and white with a yellow crest
5	Magpie-lark	Small black and white bird, often in pairs
6	Galah	Pink and grey
7	Red Wattlebird	Brown honeyeater with red "earrings"
8	Crested Pigeon	Grey pigeon with a pointy crest
9	Welcome Swallow	Swoops low and fast after insects
10	Common Myna	Brown with a yellow beak and eye patch

The magpie was so common it turned up in one in every two counts. The Rainbow Lorikeet came second for sightings but was the most abundant bird overall, because when you see lorikeets, you usually see a whole flock.

One true fact for each favourite bird

Little ones remember a single, simple fact. Here are four to share while you watch.

Australian Magpie: magpies sing a loud, flute-like song, often as a duet or a group, and they live in family groups of up to 24 birds (Australian Museum).
Rainbow Lorikeet: lorikeets drink nectar and eat pollen from flowers, which is why you'll spot them in flowering trees (Australian Museum).
Galah: galahs have a rose-pink head and tummy, and they gather in huge, noisy flocks to eat seeds, mostly from the ground (Australian Museum).
Laughing Kookaburra: the famous "laugh" isn't laughing at all. It's a call that tells other birds to stay away, and the kookaburra is one of the larger members of the kingfisher family (Australian Museum).

Birdwatching safely in magpie season

Spring is swooping season. In Western Australia, the Shire of Harvey notes that magpies nest from August to December, and some males swoop to protect their young (Shire of Harvey). Dates vary by state, so check with your local council. A few simple habits help:

Pick a counting spot away from any known swooping area.
Wear hats and sunglasses, or carry an umbrella.
Walk bikes and scooters through magpie territory.
Never chase, tease or throw anything at a magpie.
Talk with your child beforehand about what to do: stay calm and walk away together.

After the count: a calm bird activity

Once you're home, slow things down with a quiet bird activity:

Draw or colour the bird you saw most. Ask your child which bird was their favourite, then draw it together and colour it in. Add its name in big bubble letters.
Write one true fact underneath. Use a fact from the list above, written by you and "read" back by them.
Make a Bird Week tally. Pop a chart on the fridge and add a mark each time you spot a bird during the week.
Read a bird story at bedtime. A gentle story about a creature settling down for the night is a lovely way to end a busy outdoor day.

If your little one loves Australian wildlife, our My First Australian Animals Coloring Adventure has 30 Australian animals to colour, one per page, with bubble-letter names. For more native animal ideas, see our Australian animals colouring pages guide, and for winding down after a big day, try these quiet activities before bed.

Make it a Bird Week tradition

The count happens every October, so this year's tally can become next year's comparison. Keep your child's bird drawings in a folder and see if the same birds turn up again.

Ready for a calm colouring session after your count? Grab our free printable colouring pages, including a koala and a sea turtle, and print them as often as you like.

Questions and answers

When is the Aussie Bird Count in 2026?

It runs from 19 to 25 October 2026, during National Bird Week. You can count as many times as you like that week.

Can young children take part in the Aussie Bird Count?

Yes. BirdLife Australia says the count is for all ages and needs no expert knowledge. A grown-up records the birds while little ones spot, point and count.

Do we need the app to do the Aussie Bird Count?

No. You can submit your count with the free app or with the web form on the Aussie Bird Count website. The app has a built-in bird finder to help you name birds you're unsure of.

How long does the Aussie Bird Count take?

Each count is 20 minutes in one outdoor space, such as a backyard, park, school yard or beach. You can even count from a window.

Which birds are we most likely to see?

In 2025 the most commonly seen birds were the Australian Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, Noisy Miner, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo and Magpie-lark, followed by the Galah, Red Wattlebird, Crested Pigeon, Welcome Swallow and Common Myna.

Is it safe to birdwatch with kids during magpie season?

Magpies nest from about August to December and some males swoop to protect their young. Choose a spot away from known swooping areas, wear hats and sunglasses, and never chase or tease a magpie.

Sources

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