By Wild Birds Unlimited
Photographs courtesy of Wild Birds Unlimited
Feeding birds…watching birds…counting birds. Yep, it must be February and these three simple actions can make a world of difference. How so? Well, it’s the month for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), which takes place over four days, February 16-19, 2024. Sharing your results will help scientists better understand and protect birds around the world.
Getting Started
Decide where you will watch birds. In your backyard at your feeders, at a local park or maybe consider joining a group on a nature hike. Participants should watch birds for at least 15 minutes at the location of their choice on one or more of the count days. Then, select the best tool for you to share your bird sightings. If you are a beginning birder and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell Cornell what birds you have seen or heard. If you are an experienced birder, you may already be familiar with or use eBird. If you prefer to enter your sightings on a computer, perhaps after making a list while on a hike or watching your backyard feeders, visit GBBC online.
Counting Birds At Your Feeders
Not sure which foods to offer your birds during the GBBC? Again…keep it simple. Provide suet for woodpeckers and other woodland birds, Wild Birds Unlimited Finch Blend for finches, and a WBU seed blend to bring in a wide variety of other backyard birds. Throw in some extras like Bark Butter® and peanuts and your birds will come a-running (flying!) to be counted.
Oh…and speaking of simple. Here’s a quick list of six additional actions you can take to help birds and become a Song Bird Hero!
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.
All articles are copyrighted and remain the property of the author.
By Heirloom Roses
Images courtesy of Heirloom Roses
Insects can create quite a headache for rose lovers. But think about a proactive approach for your garden’s health instead of a reactive response once the pests arrive.
Think beneficial insects. Click here for an informative article on the topic.
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