Weekend bird count aims to collect global data

Events like the Great Backyard Bird Count help scientists monitor bird populations. Here, a White-breasted Nuthatch visits a feeder.

Lisa Timpf

Advocate Contributor

Those looking for something to do on the Family Day Weekend may find an answer closer to home than they think.

This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Feb. 13 to 16, and anyone willing to set aside at least one 15-minute block to count and report the birds they see and hear is welcome to participate.

This year marks the 29th Great Backyard Bird Count, and Olivia Carvalho of Birds Canada emphasizes the event is open to experienced birders and first-time participants alike. Besides being an interesting way to pass the time, bird counts provide data used by researchers to understand bird populations and long-terms trends. Big changes in species numbers over a period of time can signal the need to fine-tune conservation efforts, says Carvalho.

In addition to being a Community Engagement Specialist, Carvalho is also the Great Backyard Bird Count Coordinator for Birds Canada. This job entails working with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society to promote the event. Part of the job, says Carvalho, involves ensuring participants have the resources they need to participate. 

Her advice for first-time or novice participants is to “Just get out and try it. It’s super easy.” For new bird watchers, she notes that the Merlin Bird ID app can be helpful. The app helps users identify birds by sound, as well as providing a list of birds likely to be found in your area.

“The point is to get out, observe nature, and enjoy the wonder that birds bring,” she says. The bird count “gets more people aware of birds and how they are doing, and I love that element that you can do it from home.”

In addition to submitting their count data, participants are also invited to upload their photos of birds taken during the count.

The event’s timing in February, Carvalho notes, provides a “snapshot of the global bird population ahead of spring migration.” The Great Backyard Bird Count provides the single biggest days for birding in Canada, and “that level of survey is not possible without volunteers.”

While the Great Backyard Bird Count began as a North American activity, it has grown into a worldwide event. Last year, it drew over 800,000 participants globally, with 8,078 of the world’s known species found. Canadians submitted the third-most checklists worldwide with 26,420. 

For more information about how to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit www.birdcount.org/participate.