Each year thousands of people across the country and throughout the world count birds during the four-day Great Backyard Bird Count. This fun and free event will be held this year from Friday, February 14 – Monday, February 17. The best part – you don’t have to go anywhere to participate. Your backyard is the perfect place to count birds. Or, you can go to a local park, school yard, nature preserve – any where you can find birds.

Tracking the health of the 10,000 bird species in the world is a daunting job! But scientists have found a creative solution by joining forces with thousands of “citizen-scientists” or bird hobbyists (people like you and me) who help monitor the health and migrations of birds in their area. The purpose of the count is to encourage people to become more interested in birds and to help researchers determine the winter movements of birds across the world during one specific time-frame.

Beginners are welcome, and families are encouraged to take this opportunity to get their kids outside to appreciate nature and learn more about our feathered friends. You can commit as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can choose to count on one, two, three or all four days for as long as you like.

For specific information and guidance on The Great Backyard Bird Count, go to their website at birdcount.org. Download the Merlin Bird ID app and/or the Audubon Bird Guide app – excellent resources that will give you all the bird identification tips and photos you will need to ID most birds!

Last year in Georgia alone, 221 different species of birds were counted! Birds that are commonly found in Georgia during the Great Backyard Bird Count are American goldfinch, Northern cardinal, Eastern bluebird, red-winged blackbird, cedar waxwing, chipping sparrow, Sandhill crane, great blue heron, American bittern, mourning dove, dark-eyed junco, blue jay, Carolina chickadee and many more!

It’s never too early to start getting your little ones outside to enjoy the wonders of nature. Your kids will be excited to become “citizen scientists” and help count birds in their backyard. For more information about birds in our area, go to: allaboutbirds.org.