The Great Backyard
Bird Count is a 4-day annual event where citizen scientists of all ages and
expertise levels are invited to help scientists track the health of bird
populations. This year’s event will be held on February 15–18, 2013. The Great
Backyard Bird Count, now in its 16thyear, draws a large number of
bird watchers from across North America. For the first time ever, people from
around the world are invited to participate in the event. The Great Backyard
Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon and
Bird Studies Canada.
Participating in the
Great Backyard Bird Count is simple. First, pick a location where you will be
able to observe birds during the February 15–18 event. Locations can range
anywhere from your backyard to a nearby park or wilderness area. Then, visit
that area during the event and count the number and types of birds you see over
at least a 15 minute period. Lastly, submit your data to the Great Backyard
Bird Count. While you need to count birds at one location for at least 15
minutes, you are welcome to visit multiple locations and perform counts for
longer than 15 minutes.
Everyone who
participates in the Great Backyard Bird Count is eligible to receive prizes
such as books about birds and bird feeders. There is even a photography contest
for those who wish to submit pictures of birds that they encounter during the
event.
The data collected
during the Great Backyard Bird Count is used by scientists to help them
understand what is happening to bird populations. For example, the data can be
used to determine what areas have high levels of biodiversity and to evaluate
how birds are responding to diseases and changes in their habitat and climate.
A record number of
bird count checklists were submitted during the 2012 Great Backyard Bird Count.
During the 2012 event, over 17 million individual birds were counted and 623
bird species were identified.
No comments:
Post a Comment