The Great Backyard Bird Count
On those impossibly cold nights earlier this month there was evidence that life goes on all around us no matter the season. The evidence came in the form of the calls of great horned owls “hoo-hooing” out of the darkness.
For several nights I’d heard the call of a male owl coming muffled through the closely-latched windows; a lonely sound, with no response. Finally came a night when I heard the higher-pitched reply of a female owl. Both calls sounded very close. I looked out one of the upstairs windows and in the moonlight could see the shape of an owl perched on the tip of the very top branch of the big pin oak tree. I thought I could make out the shape of the female perched in another part of the tree. I quietly slid the window open and poked my head out into the icy air to listen. Magical.
After twenty years, as predictable as the mating season of great horned owls, the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), is hosted jointly each February by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Just before birds begin their spring migrations, these two organizations invite ordinary people to take part in a global citizen-science program that collects thousands of data points from around the world for them to study.
The National Audubon Society reports that last year, “more than 160,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.” (http://www.audubon.org/conservation/about-greatbackyard-bird-count)
How does it happen? It’s actually quite easy: volunteers watch the birds for as little as fifteen minutes and then log in their counts on the website: http://gbbc.birdcount.org/ In addition to logging counts on the website, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during and after the count. You can also check out the Explore a Region tool to get an idea of what you can expect to see in your area during the GBBC.
This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Friday, Feb. 16, through Monday, Feb. 19. You may count on any or all of the days. As the name indicates, you may participate in this activity in your backyard or from a window that looks out onto your backyard (or patio, or
deck, or wherever you normally see birds). You may count just from your property or from a local park or wildlife area, or both. Obviously, the more types of habitats you visit, the more different species you are likely to see. The collected data helps scientists understand many things, including how changes in climate are affecting bird populations.
Participating in the count is more than statistics. As National Audubon Society Chief Scientist Gary Langham says, “This count is so fun because anyone can take part—we all learn and watch birds together— whether you are an expert, novice, or feeder watcher. I like to invite new birders to join me and share the experience. Get involved, invite your friends, and see how your favorite spot stacks up.”
For all of us “citizen scientists,” we get the added
benefit of focusing on the lives of the ordinary birds for a few days; creatures we probably take for granted. Our local birds don’t just charm us with their songs, they also help with pest control, consuming thousands of beetles, bugs, flying insects, caterpillars, slugs, cutworms, etc., that like to feed on our prized plants and trees. This is a huge benefit, especially to those of us who work the land and try to coax flowers and vegetables from the earth. Let’s give a little back to the birds and take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count.