If you like watching the birds around your home, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) could use your help. The GBBC is a yearly citizen science project to track world bird populations. It’s sponsored by the National Audubon Society, opens a new window and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, opens a new window, and Tacoma Library has helpful resources that can assist you in identifying the birds you observe.
Every year since 1998, experienced as well as novice bird watchers have participated in a four day, world-wide effort to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Volunteers spend at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the counting period tallying the numbers and kinds of bird they see. This year, the GBBC counting period starts on Friday, February 16th, and runs through Monday, February 19th. You can observe and count from any location in the world, and you can do so for as long as you wish! To get started, first visit the Cornell Lab or Ornithology’s Great Backyard Bird Count website at gbbc.birdcount.org/get-started/, opens a new window. There, you can register for the count and learn more about how to report your results. A detailed instruction sheet, opens a new window and other tools are provided.
Happy birding!
