Every year, for 4 days in February, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society invite participants from around the world to birdwatch, count, and report as many birds as they can find. This is called the Great Backyard Bird Count. First launched in 1998, the GBBC is now the world’s largest citizen-led community science project.
Participation could not be easier and the observations are used by scientists to better understand and track bird populations and migratory patterns around the world.
To get started, all you need to do is find a location to birdwatch, and watch for 15 minutes or more. You can birdwatch anytime, but to participate in the GBBC, you will need to watch during the event from February 18-21, 2022. Have a notebook handy for writing down which types of birds you see.
To submit your observations you can download the eBird app or log on to the eBird website. The app is handy because you can track your birdwatching time, your exact location, and it provides an expected species list for more precise identification in real time. Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website for more details!
Here are lots of handy resources to make your birding adventure more fun!
Do you need help identifying the birds you find? You can find lots of bird identification guide books at the library or you can download the handy Merlin Bird ID app to make identification a breeze!
Don’t forget we have 3 Birding Backpack Kits available for checkout from our Library of Things Collection. These backpacks have binoculars, an identification book, and a bird bingo card for when you are out and about.
To make this event more special, download the free kids Explorer Guidebook for more activities!
If you want to make your own yard more bird-friendly, check out these tips!
Lastly, if you don’t have time to participate in the GBBC this year, you can always watch the Cornell Lab’s live stream webcams! They have several locations that follow all different types of birds! This camera is our favorite because it is always really active, but this one is also fun if you want to watch a toucan eating a banana!
