The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It's free, fun, and easy-and it helps the birds."

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Sponsors
Wild Birds Unlimited

Cornell Information Technologies

National Resources Conservation Service

National Science Foundation

 

 

Citizen Science Guide

All across North America, hundreds of thousands of people of all ages and backgrounds are participating in bird projects. They make up the world's largest research team. We call them citizen scientists. We invite you to become a citizen scientist, too. Click on any of the links below to find out more about these citizen-science projects:

 

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Project FeederWatch is for everyone with a bird feeder. FeederWatchers count the birds that visit their feeders from November through March. They also learn more about birds and bird behavior and share their observations with researchers.

Project FeederWatch in Canada
       
   

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Christmas Bird Count Audubon's Christmas Bird Count is the oldest citizen science project in existence. From feeder-watchers and field observers to count compilers and regional editors, everyone who takes part in the Christmas Bird Count does it for love of birds.

Take part in the United States and in Canada. 
       
   

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NestWatch provides a window into the private lives of birds. All you do is monitor any active nest during the spring and summer and collect information such as how many eggs are laid, when they hatch, and when the young birds take flight. NestWatch is free and and your observations help scientists learn how birds are responding to global climate change.
       
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eBird Record all the birds you see, from anywhere in the world, at any time. Keep track of your own sightings and explore what others are seeing with interactive maps.

eBird Canada
       
   

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   Celebrate Urban Birds gets city and rural residents interested in science, cultural, and community activities related to birds. It's free to sign up. You'll receive kit with posters, flower seeds, and data forms, then observe a small, defined bird-watching area for 10 minutes and report on the presence or absence of 16 species of birds.