Bird prediction tool takes flight in Eureka prizes

A researcher undertakes a bird survey in the field. Photo: Amber Croft/Sustainable Farms - The team behind a powerful tool that helps farmers identify management actions that could support threatened birds on their properties is in the running for Australia's top science prizes. BirdCast , a free web tool developed by researchers at The Australian National University's Sustainable Farms project, allows farmers to predict the birds living in woodlands on their farms. The web tool is now in the running for the applied environmental research category in Australia's 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.