Great Backyard Bird Count - 2026
Fifteen minutes of fun to help bird conservation
Hello Readers,
I am popping in today to encourage you to participate in the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count that runs February 13-16.
What is it?
Great Backyard Bird Count: A 4-day count held over a long weekend in February. Watch birds in your backyard or anywhere else, and be part of this 20+ year tradition and help provide scientists with a snapshot of bird populations. Participate from anywhere in the world. This short video introduces the Count.
How to participate:
Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds. Backyards, parks, ponds, forest trails, rivers, beaches…anywhere you can see and/or hear birds.
Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 13–16, 2026.
Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location. If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID App to report what you saw or heard.
If you have binoculars and a bird book, great. But you don’t need them.
Download the Merlin Bird ID app - it’s a game changer! I have been a basic birder for several decades, but the Merlin app truly upped my game. It’s free to download onto your phone and easy to use. It can ID a bird via a photo or by sound.
I am ready for action! I cleaned, sanitized, and refilled my bird feeders and hung two suet cages yesterday. This morning, I had Flickers and Stellar Jays arguing over access (Flickers win every time), and Juncos on the ground cleaning up fallen seed. At some point, I anticipate the bachelor turkey patrol running over to help with clean up. The weather has cleared up a bit here, so I may head down to the river to look for ducks during the count.
If you are new to birding and/or the GBCC, register for this Feb 11 webinar:
Join this one-hour live event to discover tips, tricks, and ideas to prepare for the GBBC, a fun and impactful global community science event! GBBC team members will share how to participate with confidence, while special guest and author Julia Zarankin explores beginner birding and the love and joy of backyard birds.
Let’s post our sightings on Sunday,
Sue
Share the fun with friends and family.