Great Backyard Bird Count Begins Friday

Data Collecting Project By Cornell University, Audobon Society Encourages People To Spend 15 Minutes Bird-Counting

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More than 100,000 people from around the world will take part in the annual bird count. Photo: V'ron (CC-BY-NC)

The Great Backyard Bird Count, a data-collecting project run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audobon Society, began on Friday and runs until Sunday.

More than 100,000 people from around the world will take part in the annual count, in which people are encouraged to look out the window for 15 minutes and count the numbers and types of birds they see.

Mike Reed, who directs Green Bay’s Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, said that over the long term the collected information will help scientists track all types of species.

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“We casually notice there’s more robins now and bluebirds that are being seen all winter long in Wisconsin,” said Reed. “But where exactly are they located? How many? Is there a year to year difference? This kind of bird count could help answer some of those questions.”

Because of the harsh winter, this could be a good year to participate: Reed says heavy snow and cold temperatures have made natural food sources scarce, so birds are flocking to backyard feeders.

“When they’re a little stressed for food, they’re looking for additional food sources,” said Reed. “Of course when they come in the predators come in. So you might get something that’s a little rare like a sharp-shinned hawk or a Cooper’s hawk.”

After counting the birds participants are asked to log their results into the bird count’s website.

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