One of the biggest days in birding is fast approaching: The Great Backyard Bird Count! This year, this exciting event will be held February 16-19. Here’s all the info on the GBBC, including how you can make the most of it.
What is the Great Backyard Bird Count?
Hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada, this yearly event is a call to birders and nature lovers everywhere to celebrate the birds around them. During these four days, identify and count the birds around you for at least 15 minutes a day. Once you gather this data—effectively counting as many birds as you can see or hear in this 4-day session—you can submit your bird list using the Merlin Bird ID app or the eBird app or website. These findings help scientists better understand bird behavior and other vital information about the global bird population, including how it’s affected by environmental changes. This data can then be used in bird conservation efforts.
Not familiar with eBird? Check out Chirp’s guide!
What Type of Data Should I Collect During the GBBC?
Each time you enter a bird checklist (either on eBird or the GBBC website), note where you saw or heard the bird, what distance you traveled while birding (or if you stayed in one place), which birds and how many of each that you observed and identified, and any notable bird behaviors. You’ll also note your start time, how long you spent counting birds, and how many people were in your group. You can also submit images and sound recordings of the birds that you encounter.
How Much Does the GBBC Cost?
This event is totally free! Simply walk out to your backyard or local park and start watching the birds around you!
Who Can Participate in the GBBC?
Advanced birders, new bird watchers, nature lovers, schoolchildren—everyone is welcome to join in!
Where Can I Get Involved with the GBBC?
You can watch the birds for the GBBC anywhere you find them! However, if you want to join a community GBBC event, check out the map on their website to find one near you. You can also create a group of your own—whether it’s a group of friends, an organization, a university, or another type of community group. Here are instructions on how to organize a group GBBC count.
What Do I Need for the GBBC?
Depending on how you participate in the GBBC, you may need any number of the following:
- Comfortable clothes and walking shoes for hiking/nature walks
- Birding binoculars
- Field guide for the area (pick one up at the Chirp store)
- Notebook and pen or pencil
- Bird list of local birds
- Merlin ID app
- eBird app
- Audubon Bird Guide app (US and Canada only)
How Do I Make the Most of the GBBC?
Get a group together
Whether its your family, your classroom, your workplace, or your birding friends—counting birds is more fun with likeminded nature lovers. Get kids excited by showing them pictures and videos of which birds to look for, and get them their very own gear for the excursion. (The Chirp store has some great bundles for young birders of all ages!)
Visit a birding hotspot
While it’s true that you don’t have to go far to participate in the GBBC (watching the birds at your feeders is fine too), it can also be exciting to visit a birding hotspot. Places like Big Bear Valley, which is home to more than 250 bird species, are excellent spots to join in on this once-a-year birding event.
The National Audubon Society has an excellent state-by-state guide on the best birding hotspots in the US.
And check out Big Bear’s local birding hotspots in our guide!
Study up on your local birds
Bone up on your bird knowledge by studying which birds you’re likely to encounter. If you’re in Southern California, here’s a list (with photos) of the most common birds you’ll find at your feeders and the surrounding area.
Be patient
Let the birds come to you—approaching them will only scare them off. Instead, try to stay as silent and motionless as possible, and you’ll be amazed at how many birds you’ll see. Also, it’s the perfect way to de-stress and enjoy nature—and it’s less stressful for the birds too.
Set up an online account
The GBBC doesn’t accept paper entries, so you’ll have to submit all of your data online—either on the GBBC website or on the eBird website or app. If you already have an account on either platform (or for other Cornell Lab projects like FeederWatch and NestWatch), you can use those logins.
Join Chirp at the San Diego Bird Festival
Chirp is a proud sponsor of the 2024 San Diego Bird Festival, which will take place on February 21-25 at the Marina Village Conference Center. The festival is open to all ages, and will offer social mixers, birding excursions, educational presentations, creative workshops, and so much more. Come and listen to Chirp owner Randall Putz’s special presentation on backyard bird feeding, and stop by the Chirp booth and say hi! Register today.
More Chirp Events in 2024
Missed our last bird event? No problem—Chirp has many more in store for 2024! Check out our upcoming Bird Walks schedule, starting in May.
