The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is set to take place from February 13 to February 16, 2024, inviting participants worldwide to engage in a collective effort to monitor bird populations. This annual citizen science initiative, co-sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, encourages individuals to connect with local wildlife while contributing valuable data for conservation efforts.
Connecting People and Nature
According to Becca Rodomsky-Bish, project leader for the GBBC, birds serve as a unifying force across diverse ecological landscapes. “They’re this really powerful ecological, uniting group of species,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of fostering a connection with nature. By participating in the GBBC, individuals not only observe local bird populations but also feel more engaged with broader conservation issues.
The event has witnessed significant growth over the past five years, with nearly 1 million participants expected this year. Organizers anticipate that the data collected will provide a crucial global snapshot of bird populations just before migration, allowing researchers to understand shifts in species distributions. “It’s important to catalogue the status of birds around the world at this moment in time, because in short order, many are going to be moving,” Rodomsky-Bish explained.
How to Participate and Contribute
To take part in the GBBC, individuals are required to spend a minimum of 15 minutes during the four-day period observing birds. They can record the types and numbers of birds seen using either the eBird app or the Merlin Bird ID app. For new participants, detailed instructions are available on the program’s website, along with two webinars scheduled for February 5 at 15:00 and February 11 at 19:00.
Community events are also being organized, including a birding session hosted by the Cayuga Bird Club in Ithaca on February 14. All collected data will be integrated into eBird, a comprehensive conservation database that compiles information from both the public and research entities. The database has facilitated nearly 250 research papers in the past year, providing insights not only into avian behavior but also into other species such as pollinators.
“Birds really are eco-indicators,” Rodomsky-Bish noted, highlighting the significance of the GBBC data in tracking broader ecological trends.
The GBBC has experienced a remarkable surge in participation, particularly after incorporating entries from the Merlin app, which assists novice birders in identifying birds by their songs. In the previous year, over 800,000 people from almost every country took part, identifying a total of 8,078 birds. This year, the goal of reaching 1 million participants seems achievable.
Rodomsky-Bish attributes the event’s growing popularity to a widespread desire to reconnect with nature, especially as many individuals spend significant time in front of screens. “Inherently, humans want to be connected to the natural world, and I think birds are this very accessible way to find that connection,” she remarked, noting the impressive capabilities of modern technology that facilitate birdwatching.
For this year’s count, Rodomsky-Bish is particularly interested in observing smaller songbirds, such as northern redpolls, evening grosbeaks, and pine siskins, which are expected to winter farther south than usual in North America. Beyond the scientific aspect, she looks forward to the community-building element of the GBBC, stating, “The world feels really small when you start to see all these submissions coming in from literally everywhere.”
Ultimately, Rodomsky-Bish emphasizes that the GBBC is about more than just data collection; it is an opportunity for people to come together and share their appreciation for birds. “Birds are spectacular and wonderful and inspiring – and they’re everywhere,” she concluded.
The GBBC is a collaborative effort involving the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada, with funding support from Wild Birds Unlimited.
