Plant-use

Birds are dependent upon plants for food, shelter and nest sites. Although environmental characteristics of whole suburbs play the major role in determining the bird species that have the potential to visit our backyards, our individual choice of plants affects which of these species use our individual gardens.

Click here to do a Plant-use survey or scoll down the page to view detailed instructions.

Don't forget to go to My Account to update your garden and location details for the surveys so your information will automatically appear (otherwise you will have to enter your location and your garden information every time you do a new survey).

About this survey

Birds are dependent upon plants for food, shelter and nest sites. Although environmental characteristics of whole suburbs play the major role in determining the bird species that have the potential to visit our backyards, our individual choice of plants affects which of these species use our individual gardens.

The aim of this survey is to develop a comprehensive list of plants used by a wide range of birds that live where people live.

Become a member

To take part in the survey, you will need to record your observations via an on-line form. To submit this form you will first need to become a member. Membership is free, providing you with your own password that allows you to access your data and allows us to keep track of repeat records from the same location. You can also choose to select a membership option that will allow you to receive email updates of research results and bird news.

Membership

Take part in the survey

Step 1: Become a member
Step 2: Observe how birds use the plants that you can identify in your garden
Step 3: Log in and fill out the on-line form. Use the mapping function on the survey page (type in the street and suburb in the 'find' box and zoom in) to pinpoint your exact location.

Step 4: Select 'Submit findings' when you have concluded your survey and are finished or 'Submit and add another' if you would like to submit another survey.

Note: when you click the link to go to this survery you will be taken to the Birds Australia Citizen Science portal. The survey is hosted on this site.