Grab your binoculars! Stock the
feeders! This weekend is for the birds!
From Friday, February 17 through
Sunday, February 20, you can help scientists and environmentalists by
participating in The Great Backyard Bird Count. The goal of the event
is to “create a real-time snapshot of where birds are across the
continent,” according to the website, http://birdsource.org. From
tallying chickadees to counting cardinals, beginning bird watchers
through experienced ornithologists join forces to track bird
diversity and population throughout North America.
So, you might wonder--why is it
important to count birds? Bird populations are constantly in flux.
Through tracking the quantities and varieties of breeds, scientists
and ecologists can determine how temperature changes affect
populations. They compare timing of migration to past years. The
count helps identify any problematic declines of bird populations,
allowing conservation efforts to be initiated when appropriate. They
look for regions where birds are affected by disease.
But scientists could never attain an
accurate count without the help of volunteers—they just don't have
the resources to track populations. That's where we enter the
picture! Here's how it works:
- Count birds in your area for at least 15 minutes on one or more days over the weekend. Submit a separate checklist for each day you participate. Checklists can be found here.
- Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see at any one time. You can find a checklist of birds common to your area by entering your zip code here.
- Finally, enter your results here.
You can choose to perform a stationary
count, which is a count of birds in one place—such as your
backyard. As the Great Backyard Bird Count has become more popular,
many organizations lead “bird walks” or hikes, which would be
considered a traveling count. (The goal here is to avoid counting
birds that you've already tallied.)
If you're an educator or parent, there
are excellent resources on the website for children to prepare them
to participate. And—if you don't know the difference between a
bluejay and a bluebird, you'll also find resources to help you
identify those feathered friends. Plus, of course, you can find a
slew of smartphone apps to ID birds in your backyard.
So, get out there and play scientist
for a day! Or, if it's cold and rainy—look out your window, and
take a tally of the birds visiting your feeders. Whatever your level
of interest, 15 minutes can make a big difference in understanding
the behavior and patterns of our bird populations.
It's free. It's fun. It's family
friendly.
Happy birding!
XO ~
Julie
Thanks for links to those resources...my biggest problem is I just don't know what most of the birds actually are!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I will count tomorrow morning, when they are all at the feeders. I heard a Great Horned Owl this evening when I was walking the dogs. Guess I can't count that since I didn't SEE it. Bummer.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! I am soooo happy you stopped by to say hey and introduce yourself. I really appreciate that and will be looking for you during the Spring Fling. It promises to be a very fun time! Thanks for the reminder about the GBBC. I forgot but will do my best to count and learn. It's a good weekend for it too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful birds you have over there! I like the 1st bird the most!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! What a great post and photos! I will enthusiastically follow your blog to see what other lovely creatures you attract to your backyard habitat. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteHi Julie! What a great post and photos. I will enthusiastically follow your blog to see what other creatures you attract to your backyard habitat. Cheers!
ReplyDelete