12th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count

                                                          Northern Cardinal

               Bridled Titmouse

                                                                                                              Blue Jay

Great Backyard Bird Count-Count for Fun

February 13 - 16, 2009

Nature lovers throughout North America are invited to join thousands of everyday bird watchers for the 12th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 13-16, 2009. This free event, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the wonders of nature in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks, and, at the same time, make an important contribution to conservation. Participants count birds and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org .

Anyone can take part, from novice bird watchers to experts, by counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and reporting their sightings online at www.birdcount.org . 

Participants can also explore what birds others are finding in their backyards whether in their own neighborhood or thousands of miles away. The data these “citizen scientists” collect helps researchers understand bird population trends, information that is critical for effective conservation. Their efforts enable everyone to see what would otherwise be impossible: a comprehensive picture of where birds are in late winter and how their numbers and distribution compare with previous years. 

Businesses,schools, nature clubs, Scout troops, and other community organizations interested in the GBBC can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473 or Audubon at citizenscience@audubon.org or (215) 355-9588, Ext 16.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible, in part, by support from Wild Birds Unlimited.

This a worthwhile event that you can have fun with while recording valuable information. Make sure that you get the children in on the act. 

Let me know if you see any rarely sighted birds.