About Armchair Twitch™ l Results 2009 l Results 2010

The Armchair Twitch™ aims to observe the most birds from a fixed location anywhere in Australia. It is designed to promote birdwatching as a relaxing pastime and to raise money for the conservation of wild birds. It is suitable for all ages and all members of the community including those with limited mobility. But most of all it’s FUN!

The date for the 2010 Armchair Twitch™ is Sunday 26 September. Please register online by filling out our online registration form . For more information contact the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   A new online results form is now available.  When the Armchair Twitch™ is over (i.e. AFTER the 26th September), you can send us your results online by clicking here to go to the online results form.  Or if you prefer to fill out a paper version, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  HAPPY TWITCHING TO EVERYBODY!!

Aims of the Armchair Twitch™

• To raise the awareness & interest in the wealth & diversity of birds & their habitats in Australia

• To promote the benefits of birdwatching as a healthy, relaxing pastime for all members of the community including those with limited mobility

• To raise money for the BASQ Research Fund – to be used for the conservation of wild birds

Date

The Armchair Twitch™ is held the last Sunday in September. Results to be submitted as soon as practicable, but within one month.

Rules of the Armchair Twitch™

Nominations

1. Nominations for the Armchair Twitch™ will be accepted from anywhere within Australia.
2. Each team must select a 5(five) metre diameter circle as their designated observing area. This circle must be registered before, & remain constant throughout, the Armchair Twitch™.
3. There is no restriction on the number of participants in a team.
4. There is a nomination fee per person, although children attending primary & secondary school are free.

Observations

5. The registered site can be left and returned to as frequently as desired. During observations of birds at least two people must be present in the registered site.
6. Birds can only be counted if first seen or heard by a minimum of 2 people within the circle. If a bird is seen or heard from within the circle but is too distant to identify, participants may leave the circle to get a closer look or listen to confirm the bird's identity.
7. Only birds that are alive & from free-living populations of full species may be counted.
8. Observations can only be made between midnight to the following midnight on the date of the Armchair Twitch™.

Fundraising

9. Any donations &/or sponsorships raised by individual teams will be used for the conservation of wild birds.

Ethics

10. Observers are required to follow the usual birdwatching ethics. These include:
    - Observers cannot use artificial means to attract birds; these include electronic devices, mechanical devices and/or artificial food sources.
    - Observers must not unnecessarily disturb birds.
    - Observers can not observe on private property unless they gain prior permission of the property’s owner/s.

Results

11. Results must be submitted within one month of the date of the Twitch.

Adjudicators’ Decisions

12. The adjudicators’ decisions are final.

 Results 2010

Results will be published below as they arrive.

Results 2009

Final results
Most Species seen - Sawtell Public School with 85 species
Highest Sponsorship earned - Tassie Tickers with $299
Best Average Number per person - Waterview Warblers with 25 per team member

Some comments

Buckley’s Birds: ... a cold and very windy day on Bribie Island. Still it was a very enjoyable day both socially and bird wise. We are all looking forward to doing it again next year. Great to catch up with our friends from Bribie Island.

Archeopteryx: …strong gusty winds with dust. The birds stayed home, and we are glad we did too!

Wader Mania: A nice few hours around the lake birding.

Verandah Rails: A pleasant day on the verandah overlooking the backyard and adjacent properties, with views out to the coast.

Sawtell Public School: A great day with sea birds, waders and forest birds turning up for us. We could also see whales from our circle. Great to see the high school kids becoming skilled birders. They really look forward to the day.

Nutty Twitchers: turned out during the day in adverse weather conditions. At 6 am it was 3.6°C and 6.9°C at 12.45 pm with strong gusty winds and intermittent showers. The favourite bird of the day, the last one recorded (4.30 pm), the Scarlet Robin.

“Save Our Jarrah”: We come from Jarrahdale, WA. Our forest is in imminent danger of being logged. We have formed an action group called “Jarrahdale Forest Protectors”. You can check out our website saveourjarrah.com.au. We decided to choose a site in the Mundlimup forest to let people know what sorts of birds depend on it. It was a beautiful day and the heritage society conducted an open, guided bush-walk to show off the many beautiful orchids currently flowering there. It was hard to choose a spot. Should we stay near flowering dryandra or wattle and see more honeyeaters, should we stay on the edge of the forest and maybe see raptors? If we had been there in the dark we would have heard boobooks and frogmouths. As novices, we did the best we could, chose a spot among the trees near a creek and ended with a list of 15. We did hear more but weren’t expert enough to identify calls. We had great fun and can’t wait to do it again next year providing we still have a forest to twitch in.

The Hinterland Trio: Weather was disappointing with very strong cold winds and dust particularly early in the day. Less than the usual number of species although a new bird for my house list, Darter.

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