Ladies and gentleman, get your binoculars at the ready - it's time for the Great Backyard Bird Count!
During the weekend of Feb. 18-21, all bird-loving people across North America are encouraged to count the birds in their backyards and then report them over the Inter-net. This is one of the world's largest volunteer efforts of its kind - the Great Backyard Bird Count (or GBBC), which allows people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate birds while also providing vital information on our feathered friends.
Now in its eighth year, popular event was developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. This year's theme, "North America's Great Backyard," was chosen as a way to celebrate the beauty of birds found across the continent.
But don't feel restricted in your search: the Great Backyard can be anywhere you happen to be, including a schoolyard, a park, the balcony of a condo or a wildlife refuge.
People are encouraged to enjoy the birds around them by going out into the Great Backyard during any or all of the count days and keeping track of the highest numbers of each bird species they see. Then the sightings can be reported at www.birdsource. org/gbbc
Last winter, as part of the GBBC, bird enthusiasts across North America submitted almost 50,000 checklists, totaling more than four million birds of 512 species during the February count. This giant citizen science project documented the population changes in many species of birds.
For example, citizens and families just like your own documented regional declines of the American crow, declines that may be the result of West Nile virus. These crows were reported in alarmingly fewer numbers in Illinois and Ohio, where West Nile has had a strong presence.
In addition to counting birds in your own backyard and providing scientific research, this event gives you an opportunity to visit some of our special Seattle places. Consider counting at your local park, waterfront or greenbelt. Birds consider the whole continent (and city) one great big backyard, and in a sense it's our backyard as well.
The GBBC Web site can help prepare even novices for a trip to their backyard. This applies whether you choose to watch birds at home or make the effort to see the birds that are using public lands. The site abounds in useful tips, from information on bird identification, to how to use binoculars, to how to make your yard bird-friendly and much more.
Instructions for participating can be found at www.birdsource.org/gbbc or just by Google'ing "Great Backyard Bird Count." There is no fee or registration, and you can download tally sheets and full instructions.
It's a great time for you to get outside and go birding - and count the birds!
Penny Rose is a public education program specialist and Adopt an Area coordinator at Discovery Park. She can be reached at penny.rose@seattle.gov
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