Count for the Record, February 16?19!

Make a difference in the Great Backyard Bird Count

Pyrrhuloxia by Great Backyard Bird Count participant Clifford A. Cathers

During the tenth annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), February 16?19, 2007, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society are challenging people everywhere to "Count for the Record" by participating in greater numbers than ever before.

Last year, participants reported more than 7.5 million birds of 623 species. They submitted 60,616 checklists, just 433 short of an all-time record for total checklists! Join the fun this year by sending in your bird counts. Your sightings will become part of a long-term record that scientists can use to track the health of bird populations over time.

"The Great Backyard Bird Count is a community celebration of birds, birding, and nature. We often fail to notice how rich our surroundings are, but counting birds, even for just 15 minutes, is not only educational—it can provide a lasting source of enjoyment, turning a daily walk into a treasure hunt."

—Janis Dickinson, director of Citizen Science, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

It helps the birds

The GBBC provides an early warning system for birds in need of conservation help. Your counts ensure that the birds in your community are well represented as scientists track the movements and numbers of birds from year to year. Data from the GBBC and other citizen-science projects can help scientists learn how birds are affected by environmental changes including urbanization, global warming, and diseases such as West Nile virus.

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...

1. Count birds from a favorite place for at least 15 minutes.
2. Record the highest number of each species you see at any one time.
3. Enter your checklist at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
(You can count from as many locations as you wish on one or more count days. Just enter a checklist for each location and day.)

It's fun

Enjoy watching birds from your favorite location. Count with friends, children, or family to share the excitement of bird watching. Visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc to see what others are reporting from across the continent and view the online gallery showcasing the dazzling array of birds spotted during the count. Everyone who submits a checklist will also be entered in the GBBC prize drawing. Help make this year's count the best ever by submitting counts from your community!

The GBBC is sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited.

For permission to reprint all or part of this article, please contact Laura Erickson, editor, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca, NY, 14850. Phone: (607) 254-1114. email: lle24@cornell.edu