The Great Backyard Bird Count 2010

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual, four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts.

IT'S AS EASY AS 1, 2, 3!

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page. You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission on March 1st.

These images, all from Wikipedia, are examples of birds I have in my backyard right now. They are pretty common birds almost anybody would have at their feeders. What's in your yard?

The Great Backyard Bird Count is put on by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Bird Studies Canada, with sponsorship fromWild Birds Unlimited. After uploading your sightings you can even stay on the site and see other counts pour in across the US and Canada. It’s lots of fun and keeps ya off the streets!

Cornell has put up a whole bunch of helpful information to help the new birder. Click here to check it out! There is also a whole bunch of information on Google, here. Have fun!

Here is another cool site I just found for beginning birders. This site has four nice videos on how to 'see' birds: "Size & Shape", "Color Pattern", "Behavior" and "Habitat"...all excellent clues experienced birders use when watching birds. Do check them out!