Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.
Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing and how to protect them.
Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.
“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun, and help birds—all at the same time,” said Moana Nursery Owner Christie Gescheider. “Even if you can only identify a few species you can provide important information that enables scientists to learn more about how the environment is changing and how that affects our conservation priorities.”
Anyone can take part in the the count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for a minimum of 15 minutes on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.
Instructions and tally sheets are available at all three Moana Nursery locations. Their staff can answer questions about the count and tally sheets can also be turned in at Moana Nursery.
The bird count has enormous potential both as an early warning system and in capturing and engaging people in more intensive sampling of birds across the landscape. Bird populations are constantly shifting and changing. For example, 2009 bird count data highlighted a huge southern invasion of Pine Siskins across much of the eastern United States.
Participants counted 279,469 Pine Siskins on 18,528 checklists, as compared to the previous high of 38,977 birds on 4,069 checklists in 2005. Failure of seed crops farther north caused the siskins to move south to find their favorite food.
On the www.birdcount.org Web site, participants can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting during the count. The site has tips to help identify birds and special materials for educators. Participants may also enter the bird count photo contest by uploading images taken during the count. Many images will be featured in the bird count’s Web site photo gallery. All participants are entered in a drawing for prizes that include bird feeders, binoculars, books, CDs and many other great birding products.
For more information about the bird count, visit www.birdcount.org or contact any one of the three Moana Nursery locations.
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