From February 13 through February 16, bird enthusiasts of all experience levels in the Philadelphia region are invited to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), including multiple field trips and trainings hosted by Audubon Mid-Atlantic. The count is an international citizen science initiative led by the National Audubon Society, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Birds Canada.

The Great Backyard Bird Count encourages anyone, from first-time birdwatchers to seasoned experts, to observe and record birds in their backyard, a local park, or any outdoor space. Participants contribute valuable data that helps scientists better understand bird populations and distribution across the globe.

In celebration of the GBBC, Audubon Mid-Atlantic is offering several opportunities for the public to get involved throughout the region.

Ahead of the count, the John James Audubon Center will host an “Intro to Birding” session on Wednesday, February 11th from 2:00pm until 4:00pm at the Parkway Central Library in Philadelphia. This program will focus on the essential skills needed to participate in the GBBC, including where to find birds, recommended equipment, identification tips, and more.

On Saturday, February 14th, two events will take place at the John James Audubon Center in Audubon, Pennsylvania. From 9:00 to 11:00am, representatives from Audubon Mid-Atlantic and the Elmwood Park Zoo will lead participants on a guided bird count around the center’s grounds. Later in the day, from 11:00am to 1:00pm, Audubon staff will offer training on how to upload bird sightings to eBird, along with a bird feeder-building workshop.

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a critical citizen science effort that provides us with essential data on bird populations and distribution. By participating locally, whether in your own backyard, community space or park, volunteers across our region help to gather insights that will protect birds for future generations,” said Angela Wenger, Director of Southeast PA Centers at Audubon Mid-Atlantic.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online participatory science project to collect and display bird observation data in near real time. Birds Canada joined the initiative in 2009, expanding participation across Canada. In 2013, the GBBC became a global project when observations began being submitted through eBird, now the world’s largest biodiversity-related community science platform.

For more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count, please visit the official GBBC website.