This news item expired on Monday, February 18, 2013 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Calling all bird-watchers – amateurs and experts, young and old, we need your help! Join the Great Backyard Bird Count, February 15-18, 2013!
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 birds are across the continent.
Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes. It’s free, fun, and easy – and it helps the birds.
Why Count Birds?
Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. 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.
We need your help. Make sure the birds from your community are well represented in the count. It doesn't matter whether you report the 5 species coming to your backyard feeder or the 75 species you see during a day's outing to a wildlife refuge.
Your counts can help us answer many questions:
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How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?
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Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?
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How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?
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How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?
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What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?
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Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?
Learn How to Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.