How a 20-minute bird count can change how you see science

Each spring, the Aussie Bird Count turns thousands of everyday Australians into data collectors. For 20 minutes, people record the birds they see and hear — and those observations help scientists track national biodiversity trends. Last week, Coretext joined in. The experience offered more than bird sightings: it showed how citizen science connects people with research and builds trust in the scientific process.

The science behind the count

Citizen science isn’t casual crowd-sourcing. The Aussie Bird Count, run by BirdLife Australia, applies a standardised 20-minute method that allows consistent comparison across years and regions. The data feed into BirdLife’s State of Australia’s Birds report and support biodiversity and urban-ecology studies. Research confirms that large-scale citizen-science programs can generate robust data when methods and validation are clear (Sullivan et al., Biological Conservation, 2009; Chandler et al., Biological Conservation, 2017). 

Citizen science now contributes meaningfully to ecology, epidemiology and environmental monitoring worldwide. The model works because it couples rigour with reach — structured observation multiplied by thousands of volunteers. 

What participation teaches

For our team, counting birds made scientific method visible. Each observation required decisions about classification, consistency and context — the same issues researchers navigate daily. The process sparked reflection on uncertainty, bias and the value of replication. As Bonney et al. (Public Understanding of Science, 2016) note, citizen science increases not only data volume but also public understanding of how science works. 

It’s one thing to read about biodiversity loss. It’s another to notice which species have disappeared from your own street. 

From observation to ownership

Across our team, sightings ranged from rainbow lorikeets in Melbourne’s inner suburbs to eastern rosellas feeding on stubble in the Riverina. Photographing and comparing notes highlighted regional differences — and similarities — in habitat and abundance. The exercise reminded us that participation creates ownership. People protect what they understand, and understanding starts with observation. 

Communication lessons

Citizen science succeeds for the same reason effective communication does: clarity, transparency and shared purpose. When people see how their contribution fits a larger pattern, they move from awareness to engagement. Projects like the Aussie Bird Count show how open data and clear instructions can transform public curiosity into scientific insight. 

Ready to make your science visible and participatory? At Coretext we help research organisations design communication that invites engagement as well as understanding. Talk to us: editor@coretext.com.au. 

References

Sullivan, B. L., Wood, C. L., Iliff, M. J., Bonney, R. E., Fink, D., & Kelling, S. (2009). eBird: A citizen-based bird observation network in the biological sciences. Biological Conservation, 142(10), 2282–2292.  

Chandler, M., See, L., Copas, K., Bonde, A. M. Z., López, B. C., Danielsen, F., Legind, J. K., Masinde, S., Miller-Rushing, A. J., Newman, G., Rosemartin, A., & Turak, E. (2017). Contribution of citizen science towards international biodiversity monitoring. Biological Conservation, 213, 280–294.  

Bonney R, Phillips TB, Ballard HL, Enck JW. Can citizen science enhance public understanding of science? Public Underst Sci. 2016 Jan;25(1):2-16. Epub 2015 Oct 7.