Get counting, keep native birds in Sydney

Sydney's twitchers are being encouraged to flock to Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count to keep our feathered friends in our backyards and open spaces.

Dubbed one of the country's biggest citizen science projects, the October count helps identify how many bird species are flying around our cities and how many have disappeared as a result of urbanisation.

Last year, more than 230 residents took part in Sydney's bird count, which revealed 76 bird species living in the city's parks and open spaces.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore hopes more people will take part this year so the city can improve native wildlife habitats.

"Despite the positive signs, we need to keep attracting an increasingly diverse range of birds to our city," she said in a statement on Thursday.

"You don't need a backyard to be involved when looking for birds in the city. Visit a local park, sit on your balcony or even look out of your office building, one recent office worker looked outside their window in the CBD and recently spotted a peregrine falcon," Ms Moore said.

A user-friendly Great Aussie Backyard Bird Count app means people can snap a photo of a bird and submit it to aussiebirdcount.org.au during October 23-29.