Thursday, February 16th- Monday February 19th
Every year this time of year there is the Great Backyard Bird Count! It is sponsored by Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada. You will be taking part of citizen science, which is helping scientist study birds.
All you need to do is count birds you see in your yard each day.
A general rule is to only count the maximum number of a species of bird you see at one time.
For example, one morning you see 4 robins in the garden eating bugs. That afternoon you see 5 robins at the bird bath. Count just 5 robins for that day. This is because some of those individual birds you may have seen twice.
The count is recorded through eBird, which can be used anytime of year if you’d like to keep reporting birds. There is also an eBird app for your phone.
February is a good time for this project because there aren’t leaves on the trees. Birds are easier to see and identify. In the summer however, most birding is done by ear. Here are some field guides below that are handy to have.
You may be able to identify some birds with this online guide from Louisville Water
Popular Birding & Field Guide Books
Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Stokes Guide to Birds Eastern Region
Stokes Field Guide to Birds Songs Eastern Region
Vortex Roof Lens Binoculars 10×42Â (most reasonably priced but quality pair recommended by birders)
EARTHeim Landscape Design Lexington Kentucky 