A mountain chickadee in flight.
Amy Roby
The Great Backyard Bird Count invites people of all ages and experience levels to take part in an annual citizen-science project. Now in its 27th year, this four-day event happens each February and helps scientists around the world better understand and protect birds by creating a snapshot of avian populations in real time. Anyone who enjoys watching birds can join the count.
The 2025 count is scheduled Feb. 14-17. Participants are asked to count all the birds they see or hear for at least 15 minutes (and as long as they like) anytime throughout the event’s duration. Bird-watchers are not limited to their backyard location and can record observations from any location they choose.
All data gathered during the count must be entered online. The website, birdcount.org, has a “Participate” page that details how to take part in the count and submit observations utilizing a couple of different apps or via desktop/laptop. The site also offers a checklist of birds available for download to support those manually tallying their count prior to entering it into the database.
Bird watchers can enter data starting at midnight local time on Feb. 14. Data entry is open and available through March 1, but only information gathered from Feb. 14-17 should be entered.
During and after the count, real-time maps and charts that display what others around the world are reporting are posted to the website. The website also has results from the 2024 count.
Anyone interested in learning more about participating in the GBBCcont can sign up for one of two free livestream webinars. The first takes place 4 p.m. Thursday; the second is scheduled for noon Feb. 12.
The live event provides birdwatching pointers, tricks, and ideas to help participants prepare for the count and will feature a panel of GBBC team members and others who have taken part in past events. Pre-registration is required; visit the GBBC homepage and scroll down to “Join Our Live Event!” to find the registration link.
Our area is rich with opportunities for viewing wildlife, regardless of the season. Recently, I’ve seen sizable flocks of starlings gathered together in bare trees near my home. It’s mesmerizing to watch them collectively take off and adjust direction in unison, like an undulating, airborne dance.
This simultaneous motion is called a murmuration, and the Cornell Lab website, allaboutbirds.org, explains that it’s largely a defensive move by a flock in response to a nearby predator such as a hawk or falcon.
While scientists have a good idea as to why starlings engage in murmurations, they don’t have a solid understanding as to how. There’s something to be said for appreciating the exquisite mystery of nature and enjoying its many beautiful expressions.
Amy Roby can be reached at ranchosroundup@hotmail.com.