The count was held over a week in October and saw 8325 birds counted in the Bathurst region, compared to 11,690 in the previous year.

There were 150 species identified in 2019, but only 123 in 2020.

According to a report from Bathurst council's director of Environmental, Planning and Building Services, Neil Southorn, the weather led to lower numbers.

"As well as actively promoting the count which ran from October 19 to 25, 2020, council also conducted an event called 'Birding on the mount: A guided bird walk through Albens Reserve' with local bird expert, Tiffany Mason, on Sunday, October 25," he said.

"Eighteen locals braved cold and wet conditions but still saw 33 species within the woodland landscape including interesting species like the crested shrike tit and rufous whistler.

"... Involvement and counts were high during the week, but cold wet weather over the weekend impacted the overall results."

The count found that introduced species again had the highest number of individuals with the house sparrow the most populous, followed by the common or European starling. Magpies were the third most sighted.

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