Schoolground survey
School garden with multiple vegetation layersPhoto: Richard Major © Australian Museum
About this survey
Urban environments often support large numbers of birds, even though there are usually fewer species than in native habitats. A few introduced species tend to be very common, such as the Common (Indian) Myna, but several native species, like the Noisy Miner, are also common.
To support more native birds in the places where we live, we need to provide them with habitat. School grounds tend to have more space than backyards, so there is a great opportunity to provide resources, like food and shelter, that will help native birds persist.
The main aim of this survey is to record the kinds of birds that are currently living in school grounds so that we can monitor changes over time, hopefully in response to habitat improvement in school grounds!
Register your school as a member (it's free)
You don't need to be an expert bird-watcher to help out!
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 us to keep track of repeat records from your school.
We encourage your school to register using the school email address of an interested student. Individual students are welcome to register themselves and to send in surveys of their individual backuards using the separate Backyard Bird Survey page.
Survey methods
There are two survey methods that you can use to collect the data, depending on how it fits in with you school's program.
- Keep a list of all the bird species you observe incidentally in your school ground over a 1-week period (preferred method).
- Record all the birds you observe in your school ground on a single day, over a fixed 20 minute period, as early in the morning as possible.
(Include birds anywhere in your school ground but do not include birds seen only in your neighbours' gardens, or birds flying through that do not land.)
You may choose to complete both types of survey, and you can repeat them as often as you wish, but you must submit a new survey form each time.
Take part in the survey
Step 1: Become a member
Step 2: Decide which survey method you wish to use.
Step 3: Log in to the on-line form and familiarise yourself with the 30 target species for your state.
Step 4: Collect your bird observations according to your chosen method.
Step 5: Log in and fill out the on-line form.