Shared by Tammy Cash, Conservation Committee Communications

For those of us who enjoy watching and photographing our backyard birds, or birds any and everywhere, here is your chance to share your photos, help with conservation efforts for our feathered friends, and be a Citizen Scientist! “The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online citizen-science project (also referred to as community science) to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time.” Participate in the GBBC for four days in February (18th-21st) to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds!  The GBBC is sponsored annually by The Cornell Lab, Audubon, and Birds Canada. Below is additional information on the GBBC from birdcount.org.

Project Goal:

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days, we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them. The observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

How to Participate

Participating is really easy and fun to do alone or with others! And it can be done anywhere you find birds.

Step 1 – Decide where you will watch birds.

Step 2 – Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 18-21, 2022.

Step 3 – Count all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:

Learn More by Registering for the FREE 2022 Webinar:

Join the experts to brush up on bird ID, unlock the mystery of bird songs, and practice counting birds no matter how large the flock or busy the feeder. This webinar is designed for birders of all ages and experience—you’ll leave confident and ready to be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Click here to Register for Webinar on Wednesday, February 16, 2 pm ET

Be Part of a Global Event

How cool is this! Watch observation lists roll in from around the world. Each submitted checklist becomes a glowing light on our bird sightings map. Watch the Live Map

Share Your Birds Counts

The Great Backyard Bird Count uses eBird, one of the world’s largest nature databases. It stores more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year and is used by professionals for science and conservation. Contribute to eBird and become a citizen scientist!

New to the Great Backyard Bird Count or to using eBird? Explore the How to Participate on the options for entering your bird lists. Click here to Enter Your Bird List Into eBird

Bird Photos From the Weekend:

Upload your favorite bird images when you enter your Great Backyard Bird Count list in eBird. Your photo will become a part of the Macaulay Library, the world’s premier scientific archive of natural history. Images for the Macaulay Library can be uploaded directly from your eBird/GBBC list. To learn how to upload an image to your bird list click here: Learn How to Upload Bird Photos

People Photos From the Weekend:

You can also share pictures of yourself and your bird-watching community! The photos may be used to continue to inspire others from around the world to watch and enjoy birds. All people who submit people photos will win one Bird Academy course! Click here for more information: Share Photos of People Birding

For additional information on the GBBC visit: https://www.birdcount.org/