RAINBOW lorikeets have scored a hat-trick, topping the Aussie Bird Count for the third consecutive year.
The colourful bird topped the count in Queensland, NSW, South Australia and Western Australia to take the title, while the Australian magpie topped the count in Victoria and the ACT, the magpie goose in the Northern Territory and the common blackbird in Tasmania.
More than 61,000 people helped count 1.4 million birds during National Bird Week in October, with 45,511 checklists submitted.
And not all those who took part in the count were avid birdwatchers <\#150> more than 85 per cent of those who joined this citizen science project identified themselves as novice or intermediate birdwatchers.
"For the third year in a row we have seen Australians race to their backyards, local parks and green spaces to count Aussie birds and provide a picture of what's happening with different species around the country," said BirdLife Australia's Sean Dooley.
The next backyard count will be held from October 23-29, 2017.
View the 2016 results HERE
See the 2016 species list HERE
More information about Australia's birds and how to become more involved in birdwatching, birdlife.org.au
