By Kerrie Wilcox, Canadian Leader of the Great Backyard Bird Count, Birds Canada
No matter what is happening in the world, birds give people the chance to unite around something positive – our shared connection to nature. Everyone is invited to join the 26th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, happening February 17-20, 2023! This global event is our opportunity to observe birds from our own homes or communities and contribute to a snapshot of bird populations around the world. Your participation helps birds, too – your counts will add to a body of knowledge that helps us all better understand and conserve birds.
Common Redpoll, Alberta Photo: Aaron Roberge/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
How to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count
In this free, fun event, people around the world count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more of the event days (Feb. 17-20). You can count birds anywhere – from the warmth of your home, while out walking, or at your nearest park. After you submit your results online, researchers use the data to study bird movements and populations, tracking bird migrations, monitoring changes in abundance for different species, and more. And, you can watch in real time on the live map as Great Backyard Bird Count contributions are submitted from around the world!
Everyone can participate
Everyone is welcome to join in the Great Backyard Bird Count – from first-timers to expert birders. It’s a great activity to do together with all members of your household. It’s also an excellent learning activity for students or nature groups. You can find out which birds you are likely to see in your area by using this tool. Resources to help you with bird identification are available on the event website. Learn more and get involved.
Canvasback, Ontario Photo: Mike Bouman/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Help spread the word
Help us spread the word and make 2023 the “greatest” Great Backyard Bird Count ever! Please download and share a poster or social media
Free Webinar
Join our experts on February 15 at 1pm Eastern Time as we answer your questions about how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. We’ll also touch on how to participate with a group of people, participate with kids, and do a feeder count. This webinar is designed for birders of all ages and experience levels. You’ll leave feeling confident and ready to be part of the Great Backyard Bird Count! Learn more and register here.
Podcast Episode
In a special episode of The Warblers podcast, hear from experts from Birds Canada, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the National Audubon Society about the impact of the Great Backyard Bird Count and how you can participate. Listen to it here.
More about the Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an inter-organizational effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. The Founding Sponsor is Wild Birds Unlimited.
