The Great Backyard Bird Count

"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 takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds. We'll be adding updated 2009 GBBC materials as they become available."

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

The GBBC is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society, seeking to track bird populations and learn more about the dynamics of our avian friends.  Reports can range from the birds you saw at your suet feeder in the morning to the species-rich list compiled from a day-long trip to Cape May.  The GBBC is a great way to help the scientific pursuit of these organizations while giving a great excuse to get out there and bird-watch!  Sign up at the site posted above!

Photograph by Bill Lynch (c) 2008

The Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 13th to February 16th.