Feb. 3, 2021 – It may not be at the top of everyone’s list of things to do in February but it’s an event everyone should consider. Each year, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology holds The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) around Valentine’s Day. Its purpose is to assess the health of bird species by counting them. It’s very helpful to ornithologists, scientists who are experts in birds. There is no way they could fan out across the world to count bird species so they ask citizens who love birds, a.k.a. birders, to help them.

For birders in northern climates, birds that do not migrate south for the winter can still be seen, especially on a sunny day when they are not hunkered down to stay out of blustery, frigid weather.

Examples of birds that do not migrate are the Red-bellied Woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker, the fiery red American Cardinal, and many species of sparrows, owls, and nuthatches.

When any bird with red color appears against a snowy white backdrop, the picture is breathtaking. The GBBC even holds a photography contest and offers tips on how to take great pictures of birds. Patience is the word of the day when trying to capture a photo of a beautiful bird. It helps to provide food. Hang some suet or a bird feeder close to a window and birding can be done from the warmth of a house! Make sure the window is clean and then snap away with a camera. Local hardware stores usually sell suet and suet hangers. The suet costs only about $1 per block and comes in flavors. Birds seem to especially like blueberry and berry suet!

The value of the GBBC is that from year to year, ornithologists can compare the number of birds counted for many species. If there is a sharp decline from one year to the next, they will then study the data to determine the cause. It’s not always the case that the bird species is in danger but it could be. Species that need to be protected are called “endangered species.” GBBC data gives ornithologists a roadmap and focus for further study the bird species.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Don’t be confused when trying to identify woodpeckers. With a bright red head, the woodpecker pictured above is not a Red-headed Woodpecked but a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Red-headed Woodpeckers are not as common as Red-bellied ones and have black on the head. Go figure!

With a long beak and a long tongue, the bird can easily grab food and go! But have patience as the bird will return over and over again to the suet to eat.

Birding Festivals

The pandemic has again forced many popular spring birding festivals to cancel their 2021 events. For the second year in a row, The Greatest Week in American Birding has canceled its 2021 event, scheduled for May. Held on the southwestern shores of Lake Erie, one of the five Great Lakes, the annual festival attracts tens of thousands of birders from around the world who thrill at the sight of little songbirds. More than 30 species of these colorful and beautiful warblers are usually seen during spring migration in May on the shores of Lake Erie.

But this year and every year, birding doesn’t have to be virtual. Just walk outside, look for birds purposely for 15 minutes or longer and the criteria have been met to classify the activity as birding.

Other major birding events include the “Big Sit” in October when birders are again asked to count birds from one location.

It’s great fun and definitely something to tweet about!

For more information on how to participate in the GBBC, refer to the links to the right.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is an ornithologist?

2. What is the purpose of The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC)?

3. How is data collected during the GBBC?

4. What is a “citizen scientist?”

5. Name two types of birds that do not migrate south for the winter.

INQUIRY QUESTIONS

1. Why can’t ornithologists conduct a bird count by themselves?

2. How do ornithologists assess the health of bird species from GBBC data?

3. Why is birding a good activity during the pandemic?

4. Read the headline again. What is the pun?