The Great Backyard Bird Count, Join in the Fun!

Naturalists and birdwatchers across the country will be participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which will be held Friday through Monday. 

The intent of this four-day event is to take a real-time snapshot of the populations and dispersal of birds across our country. The information gathered helps scientist determine such things as population trends, regional changes in bird dispersal, and habitat use, not to mention the fact that it is just plain fun to do!

A count can be conducted either as a stationary count or as a traveling count, but a new form must be filled out for each new location, and each day you count. The count tallies are then entered in to the Great Backyard Bird Count web page. You can view the counts as they come in and get to see what birds are being reported from your area. If you’re interested in participating check out their website at:  http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/.

Keeping track of the birds that come into our yards is an enjoyable way to pass the time, especially during our long Wisconsin winters. If your yard has been landscaped to provide a good balance of food, shelter and water, the list of birds you can hope to see in your yard can be quite impressive. My own yard has produced nearly 200 species of birds. Among them are the Bald Eagle, Mockingbird and Baltimore Oriole as well as lesser-known birds such as the Yellow-breasted Chat, Willet and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Sooner or later if you’re paying attention to the birds in your yard, one will show up that doesn’t seem to fit in with your “regular” birds. Your curiosity might drive you to look at a field guide where the mystery can often be solved without too much effort. Other times proper identification will require presenting a thorough description of the bird to a nature center, or even a visit from a knowledgeable birder. 

In extreme cases, the close study of detailed photographs might be required. This scenario plays out across the state many times every year. When someone “discovers” a new bird in their yard, it is often the catalyst to get them more interested in not only birds, but also nature and our environment as a whole. To come to the realization that there are discoveries that can be made, right in our own backyard is a wake up call…  not too unlike seeing our amazing world for the first time through the wondrous eyes of a child.