Denise Kane is out to catch 'em all - but we're not talking about Pokemon.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Rather, she has downloaded the Aussie Bird Count app and is recording her sightings to play a part in Birdlife Australia's week long research initiative.
The #AussieBirdCount can be done by anyone, anywhere.
In a suburban backyard, a park, a patch of forest or the main street of town, recording all bird sightings in a 20 minute period.
The data collected assists BirdLife Australia in understanding more about the birds that live where people live.
"We do this every year during national bird week," the Tamworth Birdwatch member laughed.
"You can look out the kitchen window washing up, note the birds down, or you can go out to a specific spot - I'm going out to the Manilla weir on of our routes and doing a survey out there this afternoon."
She said the Tamworth group have been seeing different birds around the area, which they are attributing to the drought.
"We are seeing things here that we have never or rarely seen like diamond doves, when you would see them further west," Mrs Kane explained.
"This can make a huge difference, the longer we do this for, the stronger the data is so scientists can look at the trends and help save threatened species."
Fellow member Joan Dunn are all taking part in the Great Aussie Bird Count.
She is the official record keeper of sightings on their monthly and fortnightly walks and sends them in all year round, and has steadfastly taken part in this count every single year "since its inception".
"I'm travelling at the moment, just stopping in whatever town I am in and put in the destination, and watch for 20 minutes," she said.
Speaking after a trip to Lake Cargeligo, the Tamworth member's favourite sighting so far was a group of black-fronted Doterells.
Another upcoming bird counting program will be conducted in November, where volunteers gather together at three national parks to count glossy black cockatoos.
Mrs Kane and her husband Chris were all packed up and ready to go last year when a misadventure befell them.
"So naturally this year we are really excited to go," she laughed.
And like a sign, one of the black beauties alighted on a branch as her photo was being taken by the Leader.
This unusual sighting is one of many along the Peel River recently.
"Glossy blacks can live anywhere along coastal strip to further west, and the upcoming count is for the inland glossy black, with the three observation sights at the Pilliga, the Goono and the Gobang National Parks."
For more information on the Aussie Bird Count, which runs until October 25, click here.
