Great Backyard Bird Count

There's a neat opportunity for all of us this weekend. The Great Backyard Bird Count starts tomorrow and runs for four days. It's a great chance to intentionally notice the birds wintering in your yard.

There's a very helpful website with everything you need to get started. You can print out a checklist for the birds likely to be seen in your area, by your zipcode. Then, grab a pair of binoculars, a field guide, and a comfy perch and watch for at least 15 minutes. You can watch as long as you like on one day or all four. The information gathered is compiled online and helps scientists understand how the different populations are faring. 

It's a great opportunity to help your kids understand the work of scientists and to participate in the gathering of usable data. Who knows? You may be raising a budding ornithologist! 

If birdwatching is a new skill for your kids, it would be helpful to look at the field guide ahead of time and notice the identifying characteristics of the birds you are likely to see. It can be a little frustrating when you are trying to look at a bird that keeps moving or actually leaves, while looking it up in the field guide to make a positive identification. 

There is also a wonderful website called The Handbook of Nature Study with additional information on all kinds of nature studies. She offers wonderful resources, many of them free, others at a nominal fee.