 Blue jay (Photo: US Fish & Wildlife Service) |
Whether your backyard鈥檚 a snow-covered city street or a grassy lawn in warm climes, get outside and start counting birds for National 爆料公社鈥檚 and Cornell Lab of Ornithology鈥檚 13th annual . It starts today and goes through Monday. Last year, GBBC participants tallied 11 million birds and 600 different species.
Participating is simple (click for the GBBC鈥檚 detailed instructions.) Over the next four days, spend as few as 15 minutes on one day鈥攐r as long as you want on each of the four days鈥攔ecording the birds you see. Go to your local park. Head over to the waterfront. Or even watch the birds on your home feeder.
However you choose to participate, remember these tips:
- Focus on the greatest number of individuals of any species at one time
- Keep separate lists for every day you count
- Write down any species you see鈥攆rom the blue jays and cardinals to the rarest of finds
Once you鈥檙e all counted out, submit your lists to be part of a citizen scientist project that can tell researchers such important info as the effect of this year鈥檚 temperatures on bird species and differences in migration patterns from last year to now, as well as provide an overall picture of winter birds.
The whole family can participate. For other activities to do with your children, check out the from our .