Thirteenth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Soon

(Vian, Okla) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service joins with the National Audubon Society and invites bird watchers from coast to coast to join the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count taking place February 12-15. The Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge encourages bird watchers of all ages, from beginner bird watchers to experts, to participate in this effort, whether carried out in your own backyard, on the refuge, or any of your favorite birding spots.
The Great Backyard Bird Count event creates a real–time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent and in Hawaii. Participants may count birds for as little or as long as they wish during the four–day period and in any location. To contribute, bird counters tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any one time and report what they’ve seen online at www.birdcount.org. Participants are also encouraged to upload photographs of sightings.
Whether you are reporting a small number of bird species at your backyard feeder or large numbers you see while visiting a National Wildlife Refuge; the most important aspect of the Great Backyard Bird Count is simply being a “citizen scientist” and getting involved.
This event is a great opportunity for family and friends of all ages to learn about birds while having fun and contributing to the efforts of monitoring of avian species. To learn more visit the National Audubon Society’s web site at: http://birds.audubon.org/great-backyard-bird-count
If you have questions about how you can be involved in this event or problems reporting your count information, please contact Chad Ford at (918)773-5251, extension 23, or by email at chad_ford@fws.gov.
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The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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