By Kerrie Wilcox, Project FeederWatch Coordinator, Bird Studies Canada
Common Redpolls Photo: Hope Bilinski
Are you interested in helping birds? Get involved in the 22nd Annual Great Backyard Bird Count, running from February 15-18, 2019.
In this easy Citizen Science project, people around the world count birds for at least 15 minutes. You can count birds anywhere – from the warmth of your home, while out walking, or at your nearest park, for example. After you submit your data online, researchers use it to study bird movements and populations – tracking bird migrations, monitoring changes in abundance for different species, and more. Your Great Backyard Bird Count contributions create a real-time snapshot of where birds are around the world!
Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is fun, simple, and suitable for all ages! It’s an excellent nature activity for groups, and for introducing friends and family to birdwatching. Learn more and get involved.
You may also be interested in the Great Backyard Bird Count Photo Contest. In 2018, Peter Gadd of New Brunswick was awarded fifth place in the group category for an image of Snow Buntings. Last year’s top entries have been posted – check them out on the contest winners page.
Snow Buntings Photo: Peter Gadd
Be sure to check out the Great Backyard Bird Count Story Contest. We want to hear about your exciting, funny, heartwarming, or unusual experiences from the count! Judges will select one prize winner to receive a National Geographic field guide and Bird Studies Canada membership. Visit the contest page for details and how to enter.
Help us spread the word and make this the “greatest” Great Backyard Bird Count ever! Please download and share a poster or social media graphic.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada, and is supported in Canada by Armstrong Bird Food and Wild Birds Unlimited.
