On a sunny Friday morning, on the banks of a lagoon outside of Ayr, amateur birdwatcher Matt Killeen is counting birds, saying one breed he’d love to spot is a channel billed cuckoo.
Not 10 minutes later, two flew over the top of him, letting out a mighty screech, and Matt exclaimed with wonder.
Such is the joy birdwatching can bring, a joy he is sharing with the rest of the Burdekin region by starting Facebook group Burdekin Birding, a place for likeminded locals to share photos, tips and information.
Matt’s out on this Friday morning to complete his daily count for the Aussie Bird Count, an initiative of bird conservation organisation Birdlife Australia inviting citizen scientists to take a daily count of the birdlife in their backyard.
“All of that information goes back to the Birdlife scientists who crunch the numbers and get to see a snapshot of what’s going on,” Matt said.
“As well as collecting the data, it’s about trying to get people engaged and to appreciate birds.”
A relative newcomer to the hobby, Matt has been birdwatching for less than six months, but his passion and knowledge is undeniable, saying he’d go out birding most days.
“I’ve always been a bit of a nature lover, but I’ve really got an obsession with these birds now,” he said.
“I combine birdwatching with photography so I’m learning about both things at once.”
The Burdekin is a terrific place to learn about birds, with the region’s lagoons and wetlands attracting a plethora of various birdlife.
Matt’s recommendation for amateur birdwatchers is Horseshoe Lagoon near Giru where the council have constructed a bird hide.
“It’s nice and comfortable, you don’t have to worry about crocs or snakes, there’s always birds there and they’re always close enough to get a decent photo,” he said.
“The biggest thing is to get somewhere with a bit of nature, stand still, be quiet and observe.
“At first, you’ll think there’s no birds around but after a few minutes, you slow down, and you start to see things you couldn’t see before.”
Matt also encourages ethical birding, urging people to be careful not to disrupt birdlife or nests, not enter private property without permission and to be wary of crocodiles and snakes while birding.
The Aussie Bird Count ran from October 16 to 22 and counted over 3,600,000 birds Australia-wide.
Local birdwatcher Matt Killeen. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
A White-faced Heron. Photo credit: Matt Killeen
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