The judges were impressed by our powerful online tool BirdCast, which helps farmers identify management actions to support conservation of birds on their properties.

BirdCast draws on nearly two decades of data collected by Sustainable Farms ecologists on hundreds of farms in south-eastern Australia. With many species of native wildlife under threat and biodiversity declining worldwide, farmers have an opportunity to contribute to creating habitat for numerous species. The BirdCast tool enables farmers to predict what birds might utilise woodland areas on their farm, and to understand how bird occupancy might change under a range of management actions.

Sustainable Farms Lead Scientist Professor David Lindenmayer said this free tool enables land managers to access real science to help them make the best decisions for their farm.

“Biodiversity in the woodlands of southeastern Australia is under threat, and farmers are keen to know how they can help turn this around,” Professor Lindenmayer said.

“The long-term ecological studies undertaken by our team over two decades mean we have a really good understanding of how wildlife responds to management changes.”

This award closely follows on from Sustainable Farms winning the Eureka Prize for Applied Environmental Research, just a few weeks ago.

Click here to find out more and use BirdCast

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The free web tool gives farmers an indication of which woodland bird species might be living on their farms, and how that might change under different scenarios.

Director of Sustainable Farms, Michelle Young, said this latest recognition comes after decades of working closely with farmers to gather data.

“None of this work would been possible without the support of those farmers who enabled our team to monitor biodiversity on their properties for the last two decades,” she said.

“BirdCast is a practical tool that draws on this research, and gives farmers and land managers access to scientific data to help protect and conserve our shared natural heritage.

“For example, it allows farmers to predict the changes that would happen if they planted a new shelterbelt on their farm, or restored a degraded patch of remnant woodland,” Ms Young said.

Click here to find out more and use BirdCast.

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The web tool is now in the running for the applied environmental research category in the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes.  The prizes are Australia’s most comprehensive and high-profile science awards.

Director of Sustainable Farms at ANU, Michelle Young, said BirdCast helped farmers protect Australia’s incredible wildlife and biodiversity.

“BirdCast is a practical tool that supports farmers and land managers to protect and conserve our shared natural heritage,” she said.

“It enables farmers to predict what birds might use and live in woodland areas on their farm, and to understand how the bird species present might change under a range of scenarios, such as planting a new shelterbelt or restoring a degraded patch of remnant woodland.

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“BirdCast is a practical tool that can support farmers and land managers to protect and conserve our shared natural heritage. It enables farmers to predict what birds might utilise woodland areas on their farm, and to understand how the bird species present might change under a range of scenarios,” Ms Young said. Ms Young is pictured with Sustainable Farms ecologist Eleanor Lang at the awards ceremony in Sydney.

“At a time when many species of plants and animals are threatened by extinction, woodland areas on farms are extremely valuable, providing food and homes for many of these species. It’s important that management of these areas are supported by science to help protect biodiversity. The BirdCast tool gives land managers a solid indication of how their own changes in management might have a real-world impact on biodiversity,” Ms Young said.

“It can sometimes be difficult for the farmers and other land managers who are stewards of our natural heritage to access real science to inform their decision making on farms, and this tool can support these decisions when it comes to managing woodland areas on farms.”

The BirdCast tool.

The BirdCast tool draws on two decades of research undertaken on farms by the Sustainable Farms team at the Australian National University. Sustainable Farms is a research and extension project demonstrating the value of natural assets – such as native vegetation and farm dams – for environmental health and farm profitability.

The National Trust Heritage Awards are an annual celebration of outstanding practice in heritage conservation, protection and interpretation, including of natural heritage. The Sustainable Farms BirdCast tool received a Highly Commended Award in the category “Resources and Publications”. View the complete shortlist and winners on the National Trust website.

BirdCast was built by Kassel Hingee, with input from many members of the Sustainable Farms team at The Australian National University. Support was provided by Meat and Livestock Australia. Photographs and descriptions of birds have been generously provided by BirdLife Australia and BirdLife Australia Photography, and CRE8IVE provided expert advice on the webtool interface and functionality.

Click here to access BirdCast.

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