Thanks for the link; I've never done one before, probably because I feel disconnected; in this neck of the woods, most birdwatching is done over a shotgun sight.

I did both the GBBC and the Christmas Bird Count last year for the first time. This year I've added Project Feeder Watch, and count every week for that. They are all very fun and a great way to help pass the tedious winter months here in New England. And I love to explore the data that results from these counts.

PS Rachel, that is just depressing (unless they are "sighting" HOSPs or EUSTs!).

And take pictures - they have a photo contest each year with some nice prices - I won a pair of Vortex Sidewinder binoculars two years ago.

I am going to attempt this. I'm on a trip dawn 'til dusk on the 14th, though. Maybe I can count owls by ear. :)

Thanks for the link. I printed off the poster and put it up at work. I'm looking forward to doing it.

Did GBBC last year...fun.
Project Feeder Watch seems a little time consuming for me.
Realize you can miss some days but twice a week for six months is alot of counting. Also don't keep up feeders that long.

Wonder if I can just do January and Febuary and maybe March for Project Feeder Watch...
winter birds are most active because they need our assistance.
Anyone know if that's ok?

patsi, Project Feeder Watch is two consecutive days once every two weeks, not two consecutive days each week I believe. I have not participated so I could be wrong.

I'd like to know about your January and February and maybe March question myself if anyone has the answer. I took this from their site which sounds like you can participate in late winter only. When does the season start?

Our survey is conducted each winter starting on the second Saturday of November and running for 21 weeks, through the first Friday of April. You may join at any time of year. The last day to sign up for any given season is Feb. 28 or 29. On Mar. 1 we begin taking sign-ups for the following season. Kits are shipped in the fall or, if you sign up during the season, about 2 weeks after you sign up.

I just started Project FeederWatch this season. I count on Sunday-Mondays, and actually look forward to those days.

Although I like to count on a fixed schedule, it can be more flexible if necessary. The maximum frequency for those who submit data online is 2 days/week. For those who submit data on a paper form, it's 2 days every 2 weeks. As for the minimum frequency, the instructions only say "Your data are valuable even if you were only able to count on a few occasions".

You can count intermittently throughout the 2 day period, or sit there and watch constantly. You estimate the total cumulative time. This can be less than 1 hour total, or more than 8 hours. If you work full-time, you can count for a bit before and after work.

Counting the birds has helped to pass a very cold, snowy and tedious winter. I really enjoy exploring the data that results from these counts too.

Any data is better than none !
Still love GBBC. "It's easy and fun .... not to mention important."
Thanks Bob for the reminder.

bring this up as a reminder. It's this weekend! Happy counting!

Am looking forward to this weekend! I have participated several times and always enjoy it. My non-birder brother & sister-in-law even get into it by constantly calling me to a different window or feeder & asking is that a so & so? They know basic feeder birds but may not know every sparrow or someting unusual. I did Project Feederwatch for about 7 years and it was fun as well. Now it's even easier because you may report online as opposed to mailing in your data. As mentioned before, all data is important.
Susan

I am ready to count too! I am hoping my huge flock of Common Redpolls come back this weekend. We have had a flock of about 20+ here daily but this past Saturday there were over 100, I am not kidding either. I was crazy!!

Donna

I've been in training and id'ing those darn sparrows positively before I count. My eyesight can be poor at times, and there does not seem to be a way to enter in "500 little brown blobs" as data. Go figure! Taking lots o' good nature grief from the beau about the pre-training too I tell you.

This will be my first year as well. I always put up feeders and houses every year. I love watching the birds come in to feed. I have a couple of Black-capped Chickadees that I have been trying to coax into eating from my hand. Not yet quite there but almost. I think this is beneficial in a lot of ways for us, the birds, and the scientists who will use the data collected.

I am hoping my Pileated comes in this year.
Per Backyard can it count the wooded part or just area I mow?

Is anyone else having trouble entering data at the website, or is it just me?

I click on the "Submit your bird checklist" tab, and all I'm getting is a page that starts out saying "Data collection for the 2008 Great Backyard Bird Count is complete and data collection for the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count has not yet begun."

Oh duh. It starts on the 13th!

I counted last weekend. (slaps myself upside the head)