[3] At simultaneous annual general meetings held on 21 May 2011, the respective members of BOCA and Birds Australia voted to merge and form the new company.

James O'Connor served as interim CEO from October 2012, until the appointment of Paul Sullivan in January 2013.

The organisation operates the Birdlife Discovery Centre at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush,[6] New South Wales, and leases premises in Floreat, West Australia.

[8][9] BirdLife Australia runs a number of research, monitoring and conservation programs related to Australian birds, and these are often characterised by a significant volunteer input.

Birdata is the gateway to BirdLife Australia data including the Atlas of Australian Birds and Nest record scheme.

[15] Together with Charles Darwin University, Birdlife Australia created the Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020.

Activities provided for members include meetings, a variety of field trips, bird surveys, and conservation projects.

Activities provided for members include monthly meetings, a variety of excursions ranging from half-day outings to extensive campouts, bird surveys and conservation projects.

Its mission statement is "to ensure the future of waders (shorebirds) and their habitats in Australia through research and conservation programs and to encourage and assist similar programmes in the rest of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway".

The AWSG organises the nearly annual series of North-West Australia Wader Expeditions, which use experienced international cannon netting teams to catch and study the very large numbers of migratory waders that visit the beaches of Roebuck Bay near Broome, Eighty Mile Beach and Port Hedland in north-west Western Australia.

Serventy Medal may be awarded annually for outstanding published work on birds in the Australasian region.