February 12-15, 2021
NOTE: This can be an excellent citizen science activity or community service for independent or club members.
In order to make this community service, you need to “create an account” at this link:
https://secure.birds.cornell.edu/cassso/login and record your bird observations on the official website and submit either a screen capture or printed screen for us to verify.
What is it?
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent and in
Hawaii. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.
Why count birds?
Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are located. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to
document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.
Make sure the birds from your community are well represented in the count. It doesn't matter
whether you report the 5 species coming to your backyard feeder or the 75 species you see
during a day's outing to a wildlife refuge.
Here is a helpful link to learn what birds you might see and what they may eat:
http://feederwatch.org/learn/common-feeder-birds/
Your counts can help answer many questions:
· How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?
· Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large
numbers during some years but not others?
· How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
· How are bird diseases, such as West Nile Virus, affecting birds in different regions?
· What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban,
rural, and natural areas?
· Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for
conservation attention?
The Great Backyard Bird count is one of the longest running citizen science programs in the
nation. Sponsored in part by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, this four-day bird watch has helped scientists learn more about winter birds and what is happening to them. To learn more
or participate, please visit their website at: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/
