Love birds and want to be part of a unique, simultaneous bird count on a global scale?!  Even just 15 minutes of your time will contribute to our local birds becoming part of the global census!  Every feather counts!  Your observations will be used by scientists around the world to get a better understanding of global bird populations and migrations.

Founded 16 years ago by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology & National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count has since grown into a global citizens science effort with the addition of Birds Canada and eBird.

Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

• Decide where you will watch birds.

• Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 16–19, 2024.
• Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:
  • If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell us what birds you are seeing or hearing.
  • If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop).

Participants will also be entered into a drawing sponsored by the Cornell lab of Ornithology for a chance to Win Zeiss Binoculars!  Just identify ONE bird or more using Merlin Bird ID or complete ONE eBird checklist or more over the 4-day 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count and be automatically entered to win a pair of Zeiss Terra 8×42 binoculars. Take your birding to a new level!

Visit the Great Backyard Bird Count website to learn more about its history, the value of contributions by folks like you who participate & make a difference, and how to log in your entries during the four-day window from 16-19 February 2024.

If you already contribute to Merlin or eBird, continue what you are doing! All entries over the 4 days count towards the Great Backyard Bird Count!