BIRD COUNT IN FEBRUARY

February 14–17, 2025 is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Bird lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world's bird species as possible over these four days. Combined with other bird counts, such as the Christmas count, the GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring. Are individual species declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats?

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

More than a half-million people participated during the 2024 GBBC—double the number of participants in the past five years. They reported 7,920 species of birds from 200+ countries and subregions. 

First-timers should make it a point to read complete instructions on the GBBC website, where they will also find helpful birding tips and birding app downloads. The GBBC website also features a new map for marking local GBBC community events. As with other counts, birders can join up to help celebrate birds in their hometown. 

To take part in the 2025 GBBC, each participant or group counts birds for any length of time (but for at least 15 minutes) and reports the birds they can identify at each site they visit. While it is called the backyard count, it could also be a park, a wilderness area, apartment balcony, or a neighborhood street. For us on Shaw, it is the whole island, sea shore as well as woods and fields.

Two of my favorites on Shaw:

Top: American kestral- painting by David Stribbling- UK

Right:  Varied thrush- found only in winter