The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual event sponsored by the National Audubon Society. It takes place over four days and encourages birdwatchers of all levels to participate in observing and counting birds for as little as 15 minutes. The information is collected and used by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to track species population and migration data.
Quotes
- "Each year, awareness of the GBBC seems to spread. Committed individuals, nature centers, parks, and schools adopted the GBBC as their own in an unprecedented way this year. They held bird walks, ID workshops, and many other events tied to the count."—Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Director Janis Dickinson
- "There are declines in most species of birds and they are a great indicator of the environment." The bird count "helps us get a picture of activity all across the nation."—Doris Cruze, board president of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver
References
Fast Facts
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2008 was the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count
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2008 event took place from February 15 through February 18
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2009 event is scheduled for February 13 through February 16
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85,725 information sheets were submitted following the 2008 event
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635 bird species were identified in the 2008 count
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Almost ten million individual birds were spotted during the 2008 event
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The Northern Cardinal was the most identified bird in the 2008 count
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12 new species were discovered during 2008's Great Backyard Bird Count
