Get Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time winter snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. Seth Benz, SERC Institute's Bird Educator and Dixon Fellow, will present a primer and overview of the count as well as share tips for attracting birds to your feeders.  Although it’s called the Great “Backyard” Bird Count, the count is not limited to one's backyard. Lots of participants choose to head for national parks, nature centers, urban parks, nature trails, or nearby sanctuaries. The count takes as little as 15 minutes on any one day, or you can count for as long as you like each of the event days (Feb. 17-20, 2012). It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds.  Scientists use the counts, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, to give us an immense picture of our winter birds. The GBBC is sponsored by Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada. The results provide a snapshot of the whereabouts of more than 600 bird species. Join Seth for this informative presentation and get in on the action. The program will be held in Eliot Hall on the SERC campus. Free and open to the public. No reservations required. Donations always welcome at the door.