The Australian Bird Count (ABC) was a project of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (RAOU). Following the first and successful Atlas of Australian Birds project, which led to the publication of a book on the distribution of Australian birds in 1984^[1], it was suggested by Ken Rogers that the RAOU should next look at bird migration and other movements in Australia. Methodology for a suitable project involving volunteers was worked out through experimental fieldwork and a workshop on ‘Monitoring the Populations and Movements of Australian Birds’ ^[2]. Australia The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia, making it the oldest national birding association of that country. ... Australia has about 800 species of bird, ranging from the tiny 8 cm Weebill to the huge, flightless Emu. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Many species of birds undertake seasonal journeys of various lengths, a phenomenon known as Bird migration. ...

A project manager, Stephen Ambrose, was appointed and project fieldwork ran from January 1989 to August 1995. Some 950 volunteer observers carried out 79,000 surveys, for fixed 20-minute periods in 1700 three-hectare locations over Australia ^[3]. Stephen Ambrose, at the 2001 premiere of Band of Brothers Stephen Edward Ambrose, Ph. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Project management started at the Australian Museum in Sydney and was later moved to the RAOU National Office in Melbourne. Financial support came at first from the Australian Nature Conservation Agency and subsequently from BP Australia which pledged AUD$260,000 to the project over five years. The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, centering on natural history and anthropology, with collections centering on vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as minerology, palaeontology, and anthropology. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia with a metropolitan area population of over 4. ... Melbournes Yarra River is a popular area for walking, jogging, cycling, rowing and for relaxing on the banks with a picnic Melbourne (pronounced either or [1]) is the second most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 3. ... BP plc (LSE: BP, NYSE: BP, TYO: 5051 ), originally British Petroleum, is a British energy company with headquarters in London, one of six vertically integrated private sector oil, natural gas, and petrol (gasoline) supermajors in the world. ...

While much of the data has yet to be analysed, significant seasonal movements of several species of birds, (demonstrated through geographical shifts in seasonal abundance) have been quantified. A report on some of the findings of the project was published as a supplement to the RAOU’s magazine Wingspan in 1999^[4]. 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Old Farts by the Sometimes-United Nations. ...

References

1. ^ Blakers, M.; Davies, S.J.J.F.; & Reilly, P.N. (1984). The Atlas of Australian Birds.. Carlton: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0-522-84285-2.
2. ^ Robin, Libby (2001). The Flight of the Emu: a hundred years of Australian ornithology 1901-2001. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 0-522-84987-3.
3. ^ Barrett, Geoff; Silcocks, Andrew; Barry, Simon; Cunningham, Ross; & Poulter, Rory (2003). The New Atlas of Australian Birds.. Melbourne: Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union. ISBN 1-875122-09-5.
4. ^ Clarke, Michael F.; Griffioen, Peter; & Loyn, Richard H (1999). "Where do all the bush birds go?". Wingspan 9 (4): Supplement 1-16.