This news item expired on Monday, February 19, 2018 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
The 21st annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is taking place February 16 to 19 in North Carolina communities and across the globe – in backyards, parks, nature centers, on hiking trails, school grounds, balconies and beaches – anywhere you find birds.
“This is a great opportunity for bird lovers of all ages to get outside, get involved and make an impact,” said Curtis Smalling, director of conservation for Audubon North Carolina. “The data collected by local communities will provide our biologists with key insights on where birds are thriving and where they need greater support. It will also give us critical information on how climate change is impacting birds.”
Anyone in the world can become a scientist and count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. Participation is free and easy – simply go outside to your backyard or the nearest park and write down any birds you see for 15 minutes or longer. Report your sightings online at birdcount.org or download the free eBird mobile app to count birds anytime, anywhere.
Bird watchers from 140 countries participated in last year’s count, documenting almost 6,000 species – nearly half the possible bird species in the world – on more than 170,000 bird checklists. North Carolina continues to be a top-performing state for the GBBC, ranking 9th in 2017. North Carolina birders documented 213 species in 2017, turning in 4,220 checklists.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with partner Bird Studies Canada and is made possible in part by sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.