FORSYTH, Ga. (January 19, 2007) — The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) returns for its tenth season Feb. 16-19, 2007. The National Audubon Society, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, and the Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division (DNR/WRD) invites everyone to count birds with a buddy throughout Georgia this winter.

Bird enthusiasts of all ages can share their love of birds with a friend, a child, a scout troop, a class, or a co-worker — opening new eyes to the joy of birding and the fun of creating a unique snapshot of winter bird abundance and distribution across the continent. Every pair of eyes is needed and every bird counts, whether in a backyard, on a high-rise balcony, in a park, or on any of the 730 million acres of public lands.

“In 2006, Georgia ranked 8th in the GBBC with total number of checklists submitted — 2,507 lists,” said Tim Keyes, WRD wildlife biologist. “Birders young and young-at-heart documented 213 species and over 232,000 individual birds across the state. People often wonder what concrete steps they can take to help wildlife. This is a great opportunity for birders of all skill levels to contribute data to nation-wide monitoring which is an important component of bird conservation efforts.”

Participants throughout the United States and Canada sent in more than 60,000 checklists in 2006, with 623 different species and more than 7.5 million birds counted. These millions of sightings generate what would be impossible otherwise — continent-wide information about where the birds are located and how their numbers compare with those of previous years.

Everyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to seasoned experts. During the count, bird watchers tally up birds for as little as 15 minutes, or for as long as they like, keeping track of the highest number of each bird species they see together at one time.

People are encouraged to report birds from public lands and local parks, as well as from their backyards. Participants enter their numbers online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc and can explore sightings maps, lists, and charts as the count progresses.

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a community celebration of birds, birding, and nature,” said Janis Dickinson, director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “We often fail to notice how rich our surroundings are, but counting birds, even for just 15 minutes, is not only educational-it can provide a lasting source of enjoyment, turning a daily walk into a treasure hunt.”

“We are encouraging people to go outside and count birds for the first time this year,” said Paul Green, Audubon’s director of Citizen Science. “By submitting their counts online, birdwatchers can quickly see how the dots they put on the map form new patterns that tell new stories about the birds that share the world in which we live, including our own backyards and parks.”

For nearly a decade, the GBBC has kept tabs on the ever-changing patterns of birds in winter. How far north will American Robins be reported this year? Will Sandhill Cranes migrate early or late? Introduced Eurasian Collared-Doves have been turning up in new states — where will they be this year? Native Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been spreading to the Northeast — will the trend continue?

Scientists also want more information on declining species, such as Rusty Blackbirds. While this species is suffering due to the continued destruction of their preferred habitats, other factors, such as mercury accumulation in Rusty Blackbirds may make a bad situation worse.

“This project has become a major source of scientific information about North American bird populations,” said Dr. John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. “It is a classic example of the vital role citizens and the Internet now play in understanding our planet.”

Participants who want to hone their bird watching skills can learn more from the Great Backyard Bird Count Web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc, which offers identification tips and access to photos, sounds, maps, and natural history information on more than 500 bird species. People can also submit photos to an online gallery showcasing the dazzling array of winter birds found during the GBBC. Competitions add another element of fun, including a photo contest, rankings for most numerous birds, and the coveted “checklist champ” title for towns, states, and provinces with the highest participation.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a free event, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited. To find out how you can promote the GBBC in your town and download a free 2007 poster, visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc. ###

Help the birds during the Great Backyard Bird Count

New York, NY & Ithaca, NY, January 2007 — What mid-winter activity is fun, easy, free, and helps bird conservation? What can parents and teachers do with children that opens their eyes to a whole new world of natural wonders?

During Feb. 16–19, 2007, the tenth annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, will give everyone a chance to discover the birds in their neighborhood and “Count for the Record.”

People of all ages, and of all levels of experience, are invited to join this event which spans all of the United States and Canada. Participants can take part wherever they are. They simply count the highest number of each species they see during an outing or a sitting, and enter their tally on the Great Backyard Bird Count Web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the GBBC, and Cornell and Audubon are challenging people everywhere to participate in greater numbers than ever before.

“We are encouraging people who have never done so before to go outside and count birds,” said Paul Green, Audubon’s director of Citizen Science. “By submitting their counts online, bird watchers can quickly see how the dots they put on the map form patterns that tell new stories about the birds that share the world in which we live, including our own backyards and parks.”

“The Great Backyard Bird Count is a community celebration of birds, birding, and nature,” said Janis Dickinson, director of Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “We often fail to notice how rich our surroundings are, but counting birds, even for just 15 minutes, is not only educational?it can provide a lasting source of enjoyment, turning a daily walk into a treasure hunt.”

Last year, participants submitted more than 60,000 checklists and reported 7.5 million birds overall and 623 different species. Together, the counts offer a real-time snapshot of the numbers and kinds of birds that people are finding, from Boreal Chickadees in Alaska to Anhingas in Florida. The information is used to track bird populations and to better inform conservation efforts.

Participants who want to hone their bird watching skills can learn more from the Great Backyard Bird Count web site, which offers identification tips and a multimedia guide to 500 bird species.

People can also submit photos to an online gallery showcasing the dazzling array of winter birds found during the GBBC. Competitions add another element of fun, including a prize drawing for everyone who submits a checklist, a photo contest, and the coveted “checklist champ” title for towns, states, and provinces with the highest participation.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited. For more information, visit www.birdsource.org/gbbc.
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