Have you ever tried to
count the birds in your backyard?Has it
ever occurred to you do to such a thing?Now is the time.
The thirteenth annual
“Great Backyard Bird Count” is scheduled for Friday, February 12, through Monday,
February 15, 2010.Join the tens of
thousands of bird enthusiast volunteers who will be counting birds in
backyards, wildlife refuges, and local parks.Last year more than 93,000 checklists were submitted, creating the
largest instantaneous bird tally ever recorded.
Referring to the
volunteers as “Citizen Scientists” the checklists collected will help
researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society,
and Bird Studies Canada learn more about how to protect wild birds.
The “Great Backyard Bird
Count” is also sponsoring a photo contest, using images taken during the
count.All photo participants are
eligible for prizes including bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs and other
birding products.
Anyone is welcome to join
the count and there is no charge to participate.Visit the GBBC web site at www.birdcount.org to download a checklist
specific to your area.Participants may count as long as desired on all
four days or as little as fifteen minutes one day.A separate tally sheet should be used for
each day.On the site you may also track
maps and charts real time reflecting what is being reported elsewhere during
the count, and tips for identification.
