This month we’re celebrating all things biodiversity with 2 census initiatives that monitor the status of our wildlife – and you’re invited to get involved.
Aussie Backyard Bird Count
We’re supporting BirdLife Australia’s Aussie Backyard Bird Count again this year, from 17 to 23 October. It’s a great way to get outdoors and connect with nature. If you don’t have a backyard, you can count birds in your local park, schoolyard, along creeks – anywhere in the urban area.
By counting the birds you see, you can help BirdLife Australia find out about the species that live where people live. It gives a snapshot of Australian birds at the same time each year, indicating trends in our bird communities and the health of our environment.
Last year, more than 4.9 million birds and 623 species were observed nationally. In Boroondara, 635 residents participated, recording 23,495 birds and 91 species.
To celebrate the Bird Count, we’re running a special workshop to help you learn about what you can do to support the local birds in your area.
Date: Thursday 20 October
Time: 6:30 pm start
Location: Hawthorn Arts Centre
To register for the workshop, visit our Sustainable living workshops and events page.
Great Southern Bioblitz
What’s a BioBlitz you ask? A BioBlitz involves participants sighting and recording as many species as possible within a given timeframe and area. The Great Southern BioBlitz is an opportunity for southern hemisphere countries to record flora and fauna, and showcase our beautiful biodiversity to the world.
In 2021, 19 countries took part in the BioBlitz, with more than 5,000 people participating. More than 182,000 observations were made and more than 21,000 species were recorded.
It’s easy to join the BioBlitz and help put our unique flora and fauna on the world map.
Step 1: Download the free iNaturalist app.
Step 2: Take photos of any wild plants and animals you see in Boroondara over the BioBlitz period of Friday 28 to Monday 31 October.
Step 3: Upload your photos to the iNaturalist app by 14 November.
To find out more, visit the Great Southern BioBlitz website-external site.
Events in Boroondara to support the Great Southern BioBlitz
Moth Night with Entomological Society of Victoria
When: Friday 28 October, 7:30 pm to 10 pm
Where: Willsmere Billabong
Guided Walk with Friends of Greythorn Park
When: Friday 28 October, 10 am to 11:30 am
Where: Greythorn Park
Lichen Spotting Guided Walks with Fun Fungi Ecology
Monday 31 October, 9 am to 10:15 am at Beckett Park
Monday 31 October, 10:30 am to 12 noon at Maranoa Gardens
To register for any of these activities visit our Sustainable living workshops and events page.