EarthSky’s 2026 lunar calendar is available now. Get yours today! Makes a great gift.
Great Backyard Bird Count
The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is set to take place February 13-16, 2026. During this popular community science event, people from all over the world head outdoors to count birds. Scientists use the data to track the health of bird populations.
Watching birds can be a pleasant activity to engage in, and participating in the bird count is free and easy. You just have to commit to counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as you wish) on one or more days of the four-day event, and report your sightings online at the event’s website. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can do the count from your backyard or anywhere in the world. It’s a great way to burn off some of those of extra calories from eating chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Learn more about how to participate here.
About the Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, and support is provided in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited. Chad Wilsey, chief scientist at the National Audubon Society, commented on the value of this event for both birds and people:
By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, community scientists contribute data that we use to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. In return, studies tell us that pausing to observe birds, their sounds and movements and improve human health. Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a win-win for birds and people.
How to participate
If you would like to join the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count, please follow these three easy steps.
1. Familiarize yourself with the event website at the link here.
2. Spend some time counting birds on the weekend of the event at the location of your choice, such as your backyard or a local park. The minimum amount of time required is 15 minutes, but you can count for longer if you wish. During your count, simply record the start and end time, location and number and types of birds that you see. You can perform counts in multiple locations too. Just be sure to submit separate checklists for each location.
And, not to worry if you can’t identify the birds you see at first. Just take good notes about their prominent features such as their size, shape, color and unusual markings, or you can try to snap a closeup picture. Then, you can use a bird guide to look them up later. All About Birds and What Bird are two good online bird identification guides that are free and easy to use.
Additionally, the free Merlin Bird ID app can be downloaded to your smartphone and used offline. Merlin will ask you five simple questions about the bird you are trying to identify and suggest matches for you. Plus, you can even upload a picture to Merlin and let the app try to identify it.
3. The last step involves sending your data to the event’s website. This step usually only takes a few minutes to complete. While you’re visiting the website, check out the live map that displays dots in the various locations where people have submitted a checklist. It’s fun to watch the data pour in from all over the world.
There’s a photo contest too
As an added bonus, there is a photo contest for those who want to submit pictures of the birds that they see during the event. You can even submit photos of yourself bird watching. If you do shoot some good photos, please share them with us at EarthSky Community Photos. We love birding photos!
2025 bird count
During the 2025 count, more than 217 countries and regions reported approximately 8,078 species out of the estimated 10,000 bird species that live on Earth today. Wow!
Use the hashtag #GBBC to follow Great Backyard Bird Count conversations on social media.
The first annual Great Backyard Bird Count was held in 1998, and the event has continued to grow year after year. Hopefully, 2026 will be another record breaker.
Bottom line: The annual Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 13-16, 2026. This popular community science project helps scientists keep track of the health of bird populations. Participating is free and easy, so why not give it a try?
Read more: Great Backyard Bird Count
The post Great Backyard Bird Count begins February 13 first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/s4hyWtB
EarthSky’s 2026 lunar calendar is available now. Get yours today! Makes a great gift.
Great Backyard Bird Count
The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is set to take place February 13-16, 2026. During this popular community science event, people from all over the world head outdoors to count birds. Scientists use the data to track the health of bird populations.
Watching birds can be a pleasant activity to engage in, and participating in the bird count is free and easy. You just have to commit to counting birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as you wish) on one or more days of the four-day event, and report your sightings online at the event’s website. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can do the count from your backyard or anywhere in the world. It’s a great way to burn off some of those of extra calories from eating chocolate on Valentine’s Day. Learn more about how to participate here.
About the Great Backyard Bird Count
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, and support is provided in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited. Chad Wilsey, chief scientist at the National Audubon Society, commented on the value of this event for both birds and people:
By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, community scientists contribute data that we use to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. In return, studies tell us that pausing to observe birds, their sounds and movements and improve human health. Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a win-win for birds and people.
How to participate
If you would like to join the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count, please follow these three easy steps.
1. Familiarize yourself with the event website at the link here.
2. Spend some time counting birds on the weekend of the event at the location of your choice, such as your backyard or a local park. The minimum amount of time required is 15 minutes, but you can count for longer if you wish. During your count, simply record the start and end time, location and number and types of birds that you see. You can perform counts in multiple locations too. Just be sure to submit separate checklists for each location.
And, not to worry if you can’t identify the birds you see at first. Just take good notes about their prominent features such as their size, shape, color and unusual markings, or you can try to snap a closeup picture. Then, you can use a bird guide to look them up later. All About Birds and What Bird are two good online bird identification guides that are free and easy to use.
Additionally, the free Merlin Bird ID app can be downloaded to your smartphone and used offline. Merlin will ask you five simple questions about the bird you are trying to identify and suggest matches for you. Plus, you can even upload a picture to Merlin and let the app try to identify it.
3. The last step involves sending your data to the event’s website. This step usually only takes a few minutes to complete. While you’re visiting the website, check out the live map that displays dots in the various locations where people have submitted a checklist. It’s fun to watch the data pour in from all over the world.
There’s a photo contest too
As an added bonus, there is a photo contest for those who want to submit pictures of the birds that they see during the event. You can even submit photos of yourself bird watching. If you do shoot some good photos, please share them with us at EarthSky Community Photos. We love birding photos!
2025 bird count
During the 2025 count, more than 217 countries and regions reported approximately 8,078 species out of the estimated 10,000 bird species that live on Earth today. Wow!
Use the hashtag #GBBC to follow Great Backyard Bird Count conversations on social media.
The first annual Great Backyard Bird Count was held in 1998, and the event has continued to grow year after year. Hopefully, 2026 will be another record breaker.
Bottom line: The annual Great Backyard Bird Count runs from February 13-16, 2026. This popular community science project helps scientists keep track of the health of bird populations. Participating is free and easy, so why not give it a try?
Read more: Great Backyard Bird Count
The post Great Backyard Bird Count begins February 13 first appeared on EarthSky.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/s4hyWtB
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