WHETHER it is a suburban backyard or at a local park, Riverina residents are encouraged to spot birds in the annual Aussie Backyard Bird Count next week to celebrate National Bird Week.
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The initiative is described as "a great way to connect with the birds in your backyard no matter where your backyard happens to be".
Organisers say the data collection from the initiative helps BirdLife Australia in understanding more about the birds that live where people live.
"As well as helping ecologists track large-scale biodiversity trends like these, it also gives people the chance to connect with their natural environment and gain a greater appreciation of our unique fauna," the program's website states.
Tamara Percival, a bird lover and postgraduate student in animal science at Charles Sturt University, will take part in the counting next week in Wodonga where she works as a veterinary nurse.
The Wagga resident encouraged residents to do the same because "birds are a part of the ecology, like everything else".
"They play a part in keeping Australia the way it is," Ms Percival said.
"Without birds, a lot of ecosystems would die as birds do a lot of things, from pest control to plant fertilisation.
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Ms Percival said that the data collection will contribute to other initiatives.
"Things like knowing if we need to intervene, especially for rare birds like the gang gang [type of cockatoo]," she said.
"They have small populations and they aren't threatened around this region, but in parts of Sydney, those populations are becoming smaller and smaller, so those populations are at a threat.
"These bird counts are extremely important to the health of our wildlife considering so many parrots are coming into care with the deadly Psittacine beak and feather disease, which is extremely contagious and killing off our native birds.
"CSU has developed a vaccine for the disease and fingers crossed it will help reduce the number of birds getting sick."
Asked about which is her favourite bird, Ms Percival said she had two: the Australian Hobby, also known as the Little Falcon, and the Kookaburra.
"The Falcon is a mini predator. They're incredible, fast and amazing to watch," she said.
Last year, Australians counted more than 2.7 million birds, including more than 305,000 Rainbow Lorikeets.
Residents can count as many times as they like over the week as long each count is completed in a 20-minute period.
To register in the initiative on October 21-27, visit Aussie Backyard Bird Count.
