The Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study is a citizen science initiative being conducted by researchers at Deakin University and Griffith University.

Participating locally are twitchers, or bird watchers, Ann Christiansen, Mandy Anderson, Richard Nipperess and Christina Potts, who are keen to see what birds show up at their bird baths.

These locals don’t believe in feeding the birds, but do provide water.

Researchers are interested in the interactions people have with birds in their own backyards, as this can have a huge impact on bird diversity and abundance.

One of the most common ways people interact with birds is through providing food and water.

While providing food and water to birds is a popular activity, little is known about what species are attracted to these resources and why people like to provide them, according to the survey project.

“Most importantly we need to understand the ecological and behavioural effects of bird feeding as almost all information from other countries regarding bird feeding simply does not apply here,” Deakin and Griffith University researchers said.

“We acknowledge that feeding of wild birds is an important activity for large numbers of people and that the practice may be a significant way for many to connect with nature.”

The Australian Bird Feeding and Watering Study aims to gather quantitative data on the effects of supplementary feeding and providing water for birds and the reasons why people provided food and/or water. 

In doing so the aim is to develop purpose guidelines for people who feed birds to do so with minimum risk to birds.

Anyone who provides food or water for birds and would like to take part in this exciting study simply needs to sign up as soon as possible.

Even if you can’t commit to the whole survey period, they still want you to do what you can. 

Also you can join anytime during the survey period, which runs until August 28.

Find out more at https://csdb.org.au/feedingbirds/home.aspx.

Bird bath advice

KEEN photographer Ann Christiansen also sent us a lovely photo of some honeyeaters and silvereyes visiting her own bird bath and has some advice for people interested in setting up a bird bath.

“Often commercial bird baths are expensive, too deep for many small birds and difficult to keep clean. 

A large, unglazed ceramic pot plant dish makes an ideal bird bath,” Ms Christiansen writes.

“Place it on any simple stand, preferably near trees or shrubs so that birds have somewhere to hide and preen.

Having a bird bath is very pleasurable, but it is also a responsibility.

Change the water in the bird bath often, and give it a scrub several times a week to remove slippery algae and to help avoid the spread of disease between bird visitors. 

In summer keep the bird bath out of direct sunlight and fill up several times a day if possible.

You will be surprised at the variety of bird species visiting your bird bath throughout the day, especially if it is maintained consistently.

Have fun.”

Ann and her fellow Mystery Bay twitchers were also excited last summer to see a pair of critically endangered hooded plovers nesting on a Mystery Bay beach for the first time they know of.