Feb 14, 2023 — Each February, for 4 days, individuals from all over the world hang out in their preferred locations viewing and counting as lots of birds as they can discover and reporting them to The Cornell Lab of ornithology. This year marks the 26th yearly Great Backyard Bird Count, which will happen this Friday, February 17th through Monday, February 20th. It’s a totally free occasion that engages bird watchers of any ages in counting birds to develop an actual time photo of bird populations.
A Pine Grosbeak feeds on crab apples in a tree in Tupper Lake last weekend. The Pine Grosbeaks squish the fruit to reach the seeds and drop the skin/fruit on the ground. Photo: Joan Collins
It’s an inter-organizational effort between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, Birds Canada, and even local groups of birders. Bird count participants are asked to go outside for at least 15 minutes and identify as many birds as they can.
Roughed grouse tracks spotted during a recent birding trek near Long Lake. Photo: Mary Beth Warburton
Don’t have a backyard? No problem. The Great Backyard Bird Count can be done anywhere, whether that’s standing on a street outside an apartment, looking out a window at the office, or wandering around a park.
North Country Birders Joan Collins and Mary Beth Warburton led a bird trek near Long Lake last weekend. The group spotted 29 species of birds. Todd Moe caught up by phone with Mary Beth to talk about the annual Great Backyard Bird Count. She lives near Potsdam, and will be counting birds again this weekend. She highly recommends visiting the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s website, and a short article from the National Audubon Society for motivation.
