Citizen Science Apps
Citizen science is for everyone, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced birdwatcher. Here’s how to use popular apps to record your bird sightings, explore local hotspots and contribute data to conservation.
Why use citizen science apps?
Citizen science apps help turn your everyday observations into useful data. They are used for:
Tracking species over time - showing how bird populations change year-to-year
Discovering hotspots - finding where birds are regularly being seen
Planning outings - seeing what’s active right now in your local area
Supporting research - contributing to national and global databases used by scientists
You don’t need to know every bird to be a citizen scientist - simply enter the birds that you can identify confidently.
Aussie Bird Count
Aussie Bird Count is a free, fun and friendly way to practise your bird ID skills and start contributing to bird conservation. Run by BirdLife Australia every October, all you need is 20 minutes. The app is easy to use and works well in local places like backyards, playgrounds and parks. You can also use the app outside of October to help with bird ID.
eBird
eBird is a free app created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and is part of the world’s largest citizen science program. The data collected is used by birdwatchers, researchers and conservationists. You can use eBird to:
Log bird lists
Find local birdwatching hotspots
Read what species are found in your area at different times of year
Keep a digital life list
Birdata
Birdata is BirdLife Australia’s free citizen science program and accompanying app. Your records are added to a national bird monitoring and conservation program.
Use Birdata for:
Incidental sightings
Standardised surveys (like 2 hectare, 20 minute counts)
Site-based monitoring
Tracking sick, injured or dead birds
This app is best for experienced birdwatchers, people monitoring a local area, conservation volunteers and ecological surveys.
If you would like to get training on the app, you can enjoy BirdLife’s free online course and/or find your local BirdLife group.
Using apps ethically
Bird citizen science apps are most powerful when used with care. Responsible data collection helps protect birds and maintains the integrity of the datasets.
You can help improve wild bird welfare by being careful about:
Location - avoid posting exact locations for rare birds and nests
Honesty - only submit a sighting if you are sure about the bird (it’s OK to only log what you know)
Read the Birdwatching Apps guide to learn how to ID birds using your phone.
Read the Birdwatching Ethics guide for more information about how to care for birds.
