The Great Backyard Bird Count: Join the Fun February 16-19!
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Birdwatching Excitement Ahead
Welcome back, birdwatching enthusiasts! If you love observing birds, whether solo or with family, you're in for a treat. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a popular four-day citizen science project, is approaching quickly. So, gather your binoculars and get ready to document your avian sightings!
As we find ourselves in February, it's worth noting that this winter has brought unseasonably warm temperatures and lower snowfall. Despite this, I've managed to enjoy four cross-country skiing trips during January. After the snowfalls, warmer weather typically followed, leading to rapid melting. Currently, the snow cover is quite minimal.
Participating in Project FeederWatch
In addition to the GBBC, I'm actively involved in Project FeederWatch, which continues until the end of April. Recently, I shared an experience about an increase in birds at my feeders following the first snowstorm of 2024.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
The GBBC allows you to participate from the comfort of your home, observing your favorite feeders, or by visiting local parks. While participants in Project FeederWatch submit counts over two days from a single location, the GBBC invites you to submit counts for each of the four days and allows multiple locations. You can even share observations with both the GBBC and Project FeederWatch.
To learn more about the GBBC, check out this informative video.
How to Join the GBBC
Getting involved is simple and enjoyable, whether alone or with friends, and can be done wherever birds are found. Here’s how to participate:
- Choose Your Viewing Spot: Decide on a location for birdwatching.
- Birdwatching Time: Spend at least 15 minutes observing birds at least once during the event, from February 16-19, 2024.
- Identify and Record: Identify all birds you see or hear during your observation time. For those new to birdwatching, the Merlin Bird ID app is a great tool to help identify species. More experienced birders can use the eBird Mobile app or the eBird website to submit their counts.
You can submit your observations in three ways: through the GBBC website, the eBird mobile app, or the Merlin app, all of which are free to use.
GBBC in Numbers
In 2023, the GBBC recorded significant participation:
- 7,538 bird species identified
- 202 participating countries
- 390,652 eBird checklists submitted
- 372,905 Merlin Bird IDs logged
- 151,479 photos, videos, and sounds added to the Macaulay Library
- An estimated 555,291 global participants
Further Information
If you have any questions, a webinar on February 13th will provide additional details about participating in this exciting global event.
Join us for the Great Backyard Bird Count! You'll be glad you did.