Join The Great Backyard Bird Count Starting Tomorrow

It’s back!  Whether young or old, veteran or newbie birdwatcher, you can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count starting tomorrow, February 12, through Monday, February 15.  Now you don’t have to commit to the entire four days!  You can participate any amount of time you want – even as little as 15 minutes.

Last year’s count was wonderfully successful.  More than 11.5 million birds were counted!  That’s a bunch of birds!

Northern Mockingbird

The information provided by volunteer birdwatchers during the Great Backyard Bird Count is very helpful to scientists.  Not only would it be extremely difficult for them to come up with this amount of data, but the data helps them monitor the trends of the bird populations and perhaps the impact of environmental changes.

You only have three steps:  1.  Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes at a time.  2.  Count the greatest number of individual species that you see together at one time from your regional bird checklist.  3.  Enter your results in the Great Backyard Bird Count web site.  That’s it!

Laughing Gulls

The GBBC web site is loaded with LOTS of information to help you:

• General info about participating in the four-day counting event
• Dataform which is helpful as you collect your data
• Regional bird checklist
• Online bird guide with pictures and sound
• Slideshow about the GBBC
• Information about the photo contest (all pictures you see here were submitted during the 2009 event by people just like you)
• Local events

Young birdwatchers

And there’s also a special Kids Page on the site as well.  You really need to check out all the games on this page.  I’ve sampled a few of my favorites like “see what’s missing from these pictures”.  I just love those puzzle games!

So, check it out.  What a fun and educational activity to do with your kids  this weekend – especially if you’re snowed in!  Just go to the Great Backyard Bird Count web site first to get all the helpful tips and info, then settle back with your cup of hot chocolate and start counting.

Give the gift of your time … and it’s FREE!