The 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes place February 17- 20, 2012 . It's the perfect opportunity to become a citizen-scientist by counting birds at your own bird feeders, a park or wherever you are. This study helps scientists better define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs.
Participants count birds at any location they wish for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their tallies at www.birdcount.org. Anyone can participate in the free event, and no registration is required. Last year, participants submitted more than 92,000 checklists with more than 11 million bird observations. These data capture a picture of how bird populations are changing across the continent year after year--a feat that would be impossible without the help of tens of thousands of participants. "This is a very detailed snapshot of continental bird distribution," said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Imagine scientists 250 years from now being able to compare these data with their own. Already, with more than a decade of data in hand, the GBBC has documented changes in late-winter bird distributions."
To learn more about how to join the count, get bird ID tips, downloadable instructions, a how-to video, past results, and more visit www.birdcount.org . The count also includes a photo contest and a prize drawing for participants who enter at least one bird checklist online.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is made possible in part by
sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.
Our local Wild Birds Unlimited store at NE corner of Gilbert and Baseline
is offering a FREE 2 lb. bag of bird seed
to those who bring in their completed GBBC count sheets!
Go to http://mesa.wbu.com/
Here in Eire we keep track of our gaden birds for 13 weeks between Nov. and Feb. We then submit the weekly highest count per specie.
ReplyDeleteIt is great comparing year by year. Here we get migrating birds from Northern Europe, and it is interesting to see how the changes in cold weather change those migrating patterns. Like you experience in Arizona too.
Hi Yoke, its great to hear from you! That's interesting about Ireland's bird count lasting 13 weeks. The Irish must be dedicated birders!
ReplyDelete**Note** For you readers - Yoke's blog is Birding on Wheels http://birdingonwheels.blogspot.com/ Its a fascinating look at Ireland's birds, and conservation issues in Europe.