skip to main content

Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 14 - 17, 2014

claireplymouth z6b coastal MA

11 years ago

The Great Backyard Bird Count is held next weekend, Feb. 14 - 17, 2014, and is a fun way to get outside, count birds, and contribute to a major citizen science event.

You can count one day, two days, three days, four days at one location, and if you feel like exploring around you can report results on a walk or a drive-by of an interesting location.

And after you submit your report(s) you can watch the results pour in from all over the world and check what birds other people have been seeing wherever.

Claire

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

User
11 years ago
Yep, I'm in! Did it last year too, it was fun.
User
11 years ago
Day 2 of the count and there's a lot of activity at the feeder and suet blocks. A red-bellied woodpecker had lunch at the suet feeder so of course, by the time I went to get the camera, she/he had moved on. Plenty of dark-eyed Juncos (15), mourning doves (5), house sparrows (5), blue jays (4), chickadees (2), a red bellied nuthatch and a male and female northern cardinal. All within 30 minutes of keeping track!
Related Discussions
Great Backyard Bird Count
Q
Comments (5)
Phil, I hope you can participate in the GBBC this year, or try to catch a picture of the natives around your garden. This is like the Avian Winter Olympics. You might wind up submitting a great photo to the 2014 photos for the GBBC that is a winner. I'd love to see a cardinal sitting on the rim of your jade ginger jar..... They are all getting calories to keep warm during these final weeks of winter. If you see any really FAT birds in the next couple of weeks, they'll be from my backyard! I'll be sending them your way before long.
...See More
Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 17-20, 2012
Q
Comments (8)
Oh, lisa11310, that's exasperating! I had my usual feeder birds plus turkeys, with a surprise appearance of two Common Grackles and a Northern Mockingbird on Friday. They must have been migrating through because I haven't seen them since. I submitted those feeder counts but also made a few forays to local watery spots to see what was around. This is the fifth year in a row I've reported Green-winged Teal in the Ellisville Harbor State Park. It's near the upper limit of their winter range and I've learned where and when to find them slurping mud on the mudflats. Eighteen teal this year. My other main project was seeing if I could find a large flock of Common Eiders that might be floating with the current on the Cape Cod Canal. On my second stop along the Canal (at the Rail Road Bridge) I found a few Common Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Loons. Common Eiders Red-breasted Merganser Common Loon I hit the jackpot on my third stop at the Mass Maritime Academy where there were around 250 Common Eiders floating around. There may have been a few other species of birds in there but I didn't see any. I couldn't really photograph the scene but I tried. Believe me, there were a lot of Common Eiders there - maybe that's why they're named "common". Today is my usual Project FeederWatch count so I'll submit those counts to GBBC too. I'm still hoping for the first Red-winged Blackbirds to arrive, but time is running out. Claire
...See More
Great Backyard Bird Count – February 12-15, 2016
Q
Comments (5)
So a couple of weeks ago, I move my ceramic hanging bird with bird nest to another hook on my front porch. When I did, I though "I wonder if a real bird would ever use this to make it's nest". Then yesterday, I noticed that indeed a bird had thought of that! I could see bits of the real nest poking out over the top of the fake nest!! I haven't see a bird inside of it yet, so don't know whether it abandoned the idea or will be back. It's not the most quiet spot as it's right by the front door. I thought I'd move the hook so it's a little farther into the corner so if mama bird does lay her eggs there, she won't be as disturbed. But how cute that my passing thought turned out to come true :) Marj
...See More
Great Backyard Bird Count Feb. 15 - 18, 2019
Q
Comments (7)
I just want to second what Claire posted here! I just posted info about the GBBC on the forum where I "normally" post, the Rocky Mountain Gardening forum, and I'll add it here since it has a couple links with additional info! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just want to let you all know that it's time for another Great Backyard Bird Count! It starts this Friday, Feb 15 and goes for four days, thru Monday, Feb 18. If you want to participate, all you need to do is keep track of what birds you see for at least 15 minutes on any one of those days--or for 10 hours a day on all of those days!--it's up to you--and then report what you've seen on the GBBC site to have them included in the worldwide bird count. You can count in your own backyard--which is what I do--or you can go to any location you want to to do your counting--it might be a nice day for a hike around your nearest reservoir or a walk at your local park! It helps the birds by showing which birds are where, how migration patterns change over time, and which species might be increasing--or declining. In this age of global warming it helps the people who help the birds to know what's going on! Below are links to the email I got about this year's count, and the FAQs page about the bird count. If you don't "normally" watch and identify birds, you can print out a list of the birds most likely to be seen in your area, and there's plenty of identification info to help you! I hope some of you will decide to participate this year, Skybird https://mailchi.mp/cornell/ngu4k6sy7x?e=cb6f4a5944 http://gbbc.birdcount.org/help-faqs/
...See More
User
11 years ago
Here's Mr. C.
User
11 years ago
Nuthatch at the suet.
savannahmoon
11 years ago
My sons and I are participating for the first time this year! We have had our regulars at the feeders. We went for a little walk this morning in the woods behind our house but the boys ended up just throwing sticks in the creek instead of being quiet and looking for birds lol. Tomorrow we will go either to the Wildlife Refuge or to the beach and see what we find. I love this because it gets the kids excited. :)
Host I wish I could see some nuthatches! They are in my area but I have yet to see a single one! :(
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
11 years ago
I just checked the GBBC site and right now there are

Checklists Submitted: 28589

Total Species Observed: 2546

Total Individual Birds Counted: 2768737

That's almost 3 million birds counted! and the checklists are from all over the world (they have a great map).

I've submitted a few checklists (alright, six) and I'll do a few more this weekend. Heavy snow is getting in the way this afternoon.

Claire
User
11 years ago
Another Nuthatch pic taken during my count today for you Savannahmoon!
User
11 years ago
OK one more!
Aurore
11 years ago
The Great Backyard Bird Count always begins my new year of birdwatching. I print out the birding list for my area then see what I can check off during the GBBC. After the count I continue to see how many more I can get for the year until the GBBC begins again next year and I start all over again.
User
11 years ago
Two of these beauties in my backyard this morning at the suet feeders but I only managed to take a pic of one of them through the living room window. Red bellied woodpecker.
User
11 years ago
A couple of buddies sharing a meal.
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
Original Author
11 years ago
Very nice pictures, Hostanista - I hope you reported all of these birds to the GBBC!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An interim report as the GBBC winds up, with lots of information on what birds were seen where:

GBBC eNewsletter
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And as of 5:40 PM Feb. 20, 2014

Checklists Submitted from 131 countries:
133571

Total Species Observed:
4005

Total Individual Birds Counted:
16471475

and there's still checklists coming in!

Claire

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Backyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden

By Habitat Network

Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Bring on the Birds: Natural Habitat Ideas for Gardens of All Sizes

Provide nesting, watering and perching spots inspired by the Costa Rican jungle and watch the birds flock on over

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard

By Laura Gaskill

End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain

MOST POPULAR 16 Ways to Get More From Your Small Backyard

By Mitchell Parker

Make a tight or awkward yard a real destination with these design tricks from the pros

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Show Us Your One-of-a-Kind Chicken Coops

By Annie Thornton

Do you have a fun or stylish backyard shelter for your feathered friends? Post your pictures and stories in the Comments!

FEEL-GOOD HOME What Really Makes Us Happy at Home? Find Out From a New Houzz Survey

By Mitchell Parker

Great design has a powerful impact on our happiness in our homes. So do good cooking smells, family conversations and, yes, big-screen TVs

TRAVEL BY DESIGN Travel Guide: Vancouver for Design Lovers

By Megan Buchanan

You'll find more than just great architecture in this diverse coastal Canadian city — terrific parks, shops, eateries and museums abound too

MOST POPULAR Houzz Call: Show Us Your Winter View!

By Annie Thornton

Share pictures of your home and garden in winter — whatever your climate, architecture and plantings

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

VICTORIAN DESIGN Houzz Tour: San Francisco’s Haas-Lilienthal House

By Mary Jo Bowling

Get a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse of this storied Victorian mansion from its decade-long caretaker

Sponsored