The Great Backyard Bird Count

The 2012 GBBC takes place February 17 through February 20.

I love watching the birds that we have along the river.

Today starts the 4 days of the "Great Backyard Bird Count"

I always know that the same time as this event arrives the Eagles leave.

It will be interesting to see if I get to count any this year.

Here is information from the GBBC Website 

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Plan to count birds for at least 1 minutes on one or more days of the count. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day if you count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that you see together at any one time. You may find it helpful to print out your regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds you're likely to see in your area in February. You could take note of the highest number of each species you see on this checklist.

3. When you're finished, enter your results through our web page. You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the website home page beginning on the first day of the count. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission: March 5, 2012.

Marbled Godwit, Donald Dvorak, CA,   2011 GBBC

Special Note: As the Great Backyard Bird Count has grown, more and more bird clubs, nature centers, and local parks are conducting special bird walks or hikes during the GBBC and having participants enter their tallies afterward. How you conduct a traveling count versus a stationary count is slightly different although you will enter your online tallies the same way.
Stationary Count: This is a count made in one area, such as your backyard, where you remain in one place. In this case, simply report the highest number of each species seen together at one time, as usual.
Traveling Count: This is a count made over a distance, such as birding on a trail. In this case you will count new birds of each species as you move along, but only if you can be relatively certain you did not count them previously. You’ll add the numbers for each species at the end of your walk.
Other helpful tools and information:

• Data Form Some people find it helpful to fill out the form before entering it on the website. By printing it off ahead of time, they know what information they need to be aware of, such as snow depth, for example.
• Downloadable instructions
• GBBC Photo Contest rules

• GBBC participation certificate  to give out to students or to anyone who takes part in the GBBC. (The certificates for 2012 will be available when the GBBC begins.)
• PowerPoint slideshow about the GBBC
  .
• If you're a teacher looking to get your class involved with the GBBC, read through our educator's materials for some ideas.
• If you're new to bird watching, you might want to check out our "Learn About Birds" section. You'll find help with tricky bird identifications, choosing binoculars, bird feeding tips, and much more.

Great neighborhood gift:

Ingredients

•

peanut butter

1 cup smooth

•

shortening

1 cup vegetable

•

(NOT self-rising)

1 cup white flour

•

meal (NOT selfrising)

Mix ingredients

together well and

place in a suet log

(see back panel) or

simply smear the

paste on the trunk of

a tree, branch, post

or other solid object

where birds can find

and reach it.

Store unused Marvel

Meal in a closed

container in the

refrigerator until

ready to use.

Suet & Suet

Feeder

Suet is the fatty tissue of

cattle and sheep and is

an important source of

ready energy for many

species of birds,

particularly in the colder

winter months of the

year. Many species of

birds get suet from dead

animals in nature.

The Marvel Meal recipe

on the reverse side of

this card provides an

easy way to make and

provide backyard birds

with this source of food

and will attract a wider

range of birds to your

yard.

You can make a simple log

suet feeder into which

you can place your

Marvel Meal.

Use an 8-12 inch

long by 3-6 inch

diameter log. Drill a

couple of 1-inch

diameter holes to a

depth of 1 inch.

Smear suet in each

hole. Hang with

cord, attached to log

with a screw eye.

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/kids

3 cups yellow corn

Marvel Meal