1-2-3, How Many Birds Do You See?

Get ready to have some fun, count some birds and make a difference, because the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is in February.

Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

The GBBC is a chance for bird feeding enthusiasts like you to help scientists, and utimately, help your birds.

Wild Birds Unlimited is a major sponsor of this joint project between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada and the National Audubon Society.

Anyone can participate. Simply watch and count birds in your yard, a nearby park, or maybe at a school. Then report what you saw by entering your bird list online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

The data collected is used to help scientists learn more about a particular species and determine areas that may require more detailed follow-up studies. Some obvious questions that can be answered:

-How will this winter’s weather influence bird populations?
- Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years?
- How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
- Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?

Visit Wild Birds Unlimited this month if you have any questions about the Great Backyard Bird Count. And remember it’s our Winter Bird Food Sale, so stock up on the food you’ll need to attract more birds to your yard.