North Dakota is home to a large number of bird species, and many of them can be found in Morton and Stark Counties. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to be involved in the world of birds and learn about the birds in our own backyards.
For a quarter of a century the annual Great Backyard Bird Count has been a bright spot for nature lovers. The 25th edition of the event is coming up February 18 through 21. Everyone is invited to join the count so their birds become part of a massive database used by scientists to track changes in bird populations over time. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Bird Canada.
“Sometimes people feel intimidated about jumping into the world of birds if they have no previous experience,” said Patrick Nadeau, president of Birds Canada. “The Great Backyard Bird Count is a wonderful way to get your feet wet, feel the warmth of the community, and start to realize the wonders in your own neighborhood. The tools and resources are free. And you are helping birds when you get involved.”
Participants enter a new checklist for each new location or time of day during the four-day count. There are also tools and information on the GBBC website at www.birdcount.org to help new and returning birders.
Each participant counts birds for any length of time (but for at least 15 minutes) and reports what they see online. It’s easy for people of all skill levels.
A record number of participants joined the 2021 count. An estimated 300,000 people submitted checklists reporting 6,436 species.
To learn more about how to take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit www.birdcount.org.
For information about birding along the Old Red Old Ten Scenic Byway, visit www.oldredoldten.org and choose “Birding” from the menu.