We love to encourage our customers to participate in citizen science projects, especially the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), which is held annually over the 4-day Presidents Day Weekend. This year the dates are February 17-18-19-20.
Here's the Top 5 questions we get asked about the GBBC:
What if you don't know what the bird is?
Do your best to identify the bird using a bird guide or online resources. If you can't positively identify it, ask us at Wild Birds Unlimited, we might be able to help. Bringing a photograph in and/or good notes will help. If the bird just can't be identified, that's fine, you just won't report it.
I've had a hawk fly through the yard during a count that I was unable to identify. I couldn't tell whether it was a Cooper's Hawk or a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I wish I could've reported it, but I couldn't clearly identify it, so it went unreported. Don't worry - it just happens!
How long of a time do you need to count?
All it takes is a minimum of 15 minutes. If you have longer, that's great too!
You can count multiple times over the 4-day count period (and hope you do). You can even count multiple times on a day. For example, you count in the morning before you go to work, and then again when you get home. This would be submitted as two separate checklists.
I'm not going to be at my own house; can I count someplace else?
Sure. One year, I did Day 4 while visiting a friend in Old Forge, NY.
If I see a male bird one time and a female bird the next time, I count 2, right?
No, unless you see the male and female bird at the same time. Why not? Consistency; this is the surest way to ensure that everyone that counts, counts in the same manner.
Do I count the birds I see in the sky?
If you can clearly identify them, yes, include them in your count.
Enjoy counting the birds this weekend in the Great Backyard Bird Count. Wild Birds Unlimited is proud to be a sponsor of this citizen science project!
Margaret - thanks for the heads up on the creepers. I'll keep my eyes peeled!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | February 24, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Hey, the Creepers are out (at least as of yesterday --seems a bit early), so keep your eyes and ears peeled!
Posted by: Margaret | February 21, 2012 at 06:52 AM
Margaret, we have lots of juncos, jays and doves, a few woodpeckers, chickadees, and goldfinches. Nothing wild. But that is important for the folks at Cornell to know as well!
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | February 20, 2012 at 09:43 AM
Not so much this year. A chickadee's plaintive fee-bee call. Blue Jays noising to each other. Some Pileated action. A siskin in deep woods. The ever-reliable feeder goldfinches. The nice thing about light snow cover -- you can see what's been staking out your feeders (or not), at least from the ground. I hope you are faring better! It could be time to head up to the grasslands.
Posted by: Margaret | February 20, 2012 at 05:57 AM
Richard - my assumption is that the folks that compile it want to have the best bet of consistency. I know it feels like undercounting but I just follow the rules to the best of my ability and encourage others to do so too. Maybe they work it into their results somehow too.
Posted by: The Zen Birdfeeder | February 18, 2012 at 06:37 PM
I know I have a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers, and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers at my feeder, but I *never* see the male and female at the same time. This seems like a guarantee of undercounting.
Posted by: Richard Utt | February 14, 2012 at 04:07 PM