Bird Watching FAQ
New to birding? These are the questions we get asked the most, from what you need to get started to the best time to head out and how Wingmate helps you spot 'em all.
Honestly, it's a bit like real-life Pokémon GO. Australia has around 900 bird species, and roughly 400 of them live nowhere else on Earth, so you'll never run out of new ones to find. It gets you outside, it makes you slow down and actually notice what's around you, and there's solid evidence it helps with stress and anxiety. As a bonus, the birds you log become useful data for conservation.
Kind of, yeah. It's part field guide and part game. You log the birds you spot to build your life list, rack up XP as you go, and climb the leaderboards. Add your friends to compare lists and watch each other's progress, then take each other on in battles. The whole idea is to turn a normal walk outside into a quest to spot 'em all.
Nope. Your local park, your own eyes, and maybe your phone are plenty to get going. Don't worry about memorising every bird you see. Just start paying attention to what's around you. Binoculars are nice to have down the track, but you really don't need them to begin.
Early morning is your best bet, with dusk a close second. That's when birds are out feeding and moving about, so you'll spot the most species.
Not even a little. You pick it up as you go, and the more you get out there, the more it sticks. Birding is about being outside and actually noticing things, not about how much you already know.
Totally fine. There's no right way to do this. Keep a list if you enjoy it, or just take photos, sketch what you see, chase your next lifer, or sit and enjoy the birds around you. Do whatever keeps you coming back.
You have plenty of options. Most towns and cities have local parks, reserves and wetlands that are great for birds, and lots of species do just fine in urban and suburban areas. Wherever you live, there's usually good birding within walking distance or a short public transport ride. Wingmate's hotspot map can point you to spots near you.
More than most people realise. They eat huge numbers of crop-destroying insects, clean up carcasses before they spread disease, and help keep forests, wetlands and grasslands healthy. And every bird you log helps researchers track how species are doing. Citizen scientists provide over half of Australia's biodiversity records, according to the CSIRO. Read more about why we do this →
Yes. The core features, including the field guide, life list, hotspot map and AI identification tool, are all free. If you want offline mode and a few extras, there's an optional paid subscription.
Ready to start your quest?
Available now in Australia and New Zealand.
