Great Backyard Bird Count - Feb. 15-18

On February 15-18, join tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S. and Canada in the 2008 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). You can count the birds you see in your backyard, at your local park, or a nearby wildlife refuge—you can even count from your own window. People of all ages and all levels of bird-watching experience are invited to take part. It is a great way to learn more about the birds in your backyard and neighborhood.

1. Visit www.birdcount.org for easy-to-follow instructions, including tips for identifying bird species. Download a checklist for your area.

2. Count the birds you see, wherever you choose to count. Write down the highest number of individuals you see at one time—that way you will avoid counting any bird twice.

3. After at least 15 minutes of watching in one place, report your results online at www.birdcount.org. (You can spend more time observing if you prefer.)

4. You can repeat your count at the same place on each day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. You can also visit other locations and submit separate tallies for those areas as well.

View your results: Online maps and lists are updated throughout the count, making it easy to see how your birds fit into the big picture.