Calling All Bird Lovers Young and Old to Participate In The Great Backyard Bird Count
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count!!
Calling all bird lovers!!! We are a little over a week away from the Great Backyard Bird Count. Starting February 16 through the 19th, join in with people all around the world, watching for your favorite flying friends. So grab your binoculars, tell your neighbors, take your kids, and get outside to participate.
How to Participate
Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.
Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days.
Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sighting:
- If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app. This app allows you to photo ID and will even pick up bird sounds around you through the sound ID.
- If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop).
- If you choose to watch somewhere with bad cell service you can download and print the eBird checklist (click this for Alabama) for your region until you get somewhere you can record on your device.
If you already contribute to Merlin or eBird, continue what you are doing! All entries over the 4 days count towards GBBC.
All data entered during this event help scientists better understand and protect birds. If you are curious about whether or not your state/county participated you can view the results from the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count.
If you don't know exactly where to look and want to get a wide variety of birds, check out the Alabama birding trails and find one near you!
Photo from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Flicker/photo-gallery/60403261
Read more about bird watching in our featured small towns.
