Great Backyard Bird Count

By Myrna Pearman, Mother Nature’s Naturalist and Backyard Birding Expert

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds through the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). In 2026, the GBBC will be held February 13th to 16th.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a citizen science initiative to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real time. Birds Canada joined the project in 2009 and, in 2013, the project went global when organizers began entering data into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project.

Song Sparrow

Over these four days, people are invited to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting birds, then submitting the data online. Participating is easy and can be done alone or with others and can be done anywhere birds are found. All that is required is that participants watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days. All the birds that are seen or heard are uploaded using the eBird Mobile app or are entered via the eBird website (desktop/laptop).

Cornell Lab of Ornithology will be hosting a free one-hour webinar about the GBBC on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PT. Simply follow the link on the birdcount.org website to register.

Great Backyard Bird Count observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before the spring migration begins. It is a great way for both beginner and expert birders to watch and count their feeder birds and/or to get outside during the gray and dreary days of February to have fun, get some exercise, enjoy bird watching and contribute to science!

More information about this program can be found at birdcount.org.

Have more questions? Visit your local Buckerfield's and we'll be happy to help!