Join in the Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

ELLICOTTVILLE — Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County is urging county residents to participate in the 29th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count this coming weekend.

This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count is Friday, Feb. 13 through Sunday. It gives residents a reminder to take a moment to celebrate what birds and nature give. 

Kelly McDonald, CCE Cattaraugus County executive director, said she looks forward to this count every year, sending out postcards as reminders to participate in this annual event. CCE Cattaraugus County is encouraging all residents to join the count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is an inter-organizational effort between Audubon, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Birds Canada, McDonald said. 

Anyone can take part in the GBBC, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, a public park, or anywhere in the world.

To learn more about the Backyard Bird Count, visit birdcount.org.

Spending time immersed in nature and watching birds can reduce stress and bring a smile to everyone’s face, McDonald said.

Spend 15 minutes watching birds and sharing what you see with the world at birdcount.org.

Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over four days in February. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring-whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.

“The GBBC is a great opportunity for everyone to take a moment to appreciate what birds and nature can do for us,” says David Bonter, co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Watching birds with friends and family is also a great way to build community and show your support for the natural world.”