Bird watchers of all ages count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are.
Do you have winter feathered visitors in your back yard? Did you see them scurrying down the beach? Then think about participating in this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). Suggested by Nirapa Horning as a great activity, she is hoping the weather will be nice on Fishers on the bird count days, Friday, February 12–15, 2021!
And, you can do the count from your location, anywhere around the world.
Sponsored by The Cornell Lab, Audubon Society, and others, it is a way to get a snapshot of our bird population’s activities.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1. Create a free GBBC account if you have never participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count or any other Cornell Lab citizen-science project. If you already created an account for the GBBC in the past, or if you’re already registered with eBird or another Cornell Lab citizen-science project, you can use your existing user name and password.
2. Count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. 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.
3. Enter your results on the GBBC website.
Join us February 12–15, 2021
Each year people from around the world come together to watch, learn about, count, and celebrate birds.
COVID Statement: Watching birds is a safe and enjoyable activity we can do during the Covid pandemic. For the 2021 Great Backyard Bird Count, we strongly urge participants to comply with all current country, province, state, First People’s lands, or municipal Covid-19 regulations and guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, social distancing while birdwatching and wearing a mask when birding with others. Thank you for protecting yourself and your community while celebrating the wonders of birds.
Be a Part of a Global Event
Watch observation lists roll in from around the world. Each submitted checklist becomes a glowing light on our bird sightings map.
Results are coming in for 2021!
Connect to Birds, to Nature, and with Each Other
Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 12–15, 2021, when the world comes together for the love of birds.
Share Your Birds with Us
The Great Backyard Bird Count uses eBird, one of the world’s largest nature databases. It stores more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year and is used by professionals for science and conservation. Contribute to eBird and become a citizen scientist.
New to the Great Backyard Bird Count or to using eBird? Explore our How to Participate on options for entering your bird lists.
Showcase Your Photos from the Count
We enjoy seeing your pictures from the count. Share pictures of birds, yourself, and others birdwatching in your yards or at your favorite birding spots.
“We all need an incentive to get outside mid-winter and look for birds beyond what we can see from our windows. It’s fun to see the little flashes of light on the map when we submit our counts, among the thousands around the world, and we know our data matter.”
— Barb Gorges, Wyoming, United States
