The Great Backyard Bird Count: Turning Curiosity Into Conservation

Every February, something powerful happens in backyards, schoolyards, parks, and nature trails all across the world. Families step outside, children grab binoculars, and everyday people become real-life scientists.

It’s called the Great Backyard Bird Count — and it’s one of the simplest and most impactful ways regular citizens (yes, even our littlest explorers!) can help protect the environment.

What Is the Great Backyard Bird Count?

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a worldwide citizen science event that invites people of all ages to count birds for at least 15 minutes during a four-day window in February. This year it’s February 13th to February 16th.

Participants simply:

• Watch birds anywhere (backyard, neighborhood park, trail, schoolyard)

• Count the birds they see or hear

• Submit their observations online

That’s it.

No special degree required. No fancy equipment necessary (though binoculars are fun!). Just curiosity and a willingness to pay attention.

The data collected helps scientists understand:

• Bird migration patterns

• Population changes

• Habitat health

• Effects of climate change

Because thousands of families participate globally, researchers receive a real-time snapshot of bird populations that would be impossible to gather alone.

What Is Citizen Science?

Citizen science is when everyday people contribute to real scientific research.

Instead of science only happening in labs or universities, citizen science invites communities to gather data, make observations, and contribute directly to environmental understanding. It bridges the gap between professional researchers and the public.

For children, it’s incredibly empowering.

They learn:

• Observation skills

• Data collection

• Patience and focus

• Ecological awareness

• That their actions matter

When a preschooler counts three robins in their yard, they are contributing to the same database used by ornithologists and climate researchers.

That’s powerful.

Citizen science builds both knowledge and stewardship — two core pillars of our Nature Sprouts Adventure Club programming.

How Families and Kids Can Participate

Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is simple and flexible — perfect for busy families, homeschoolers, and community groups.

Step 1: Pick a Location

Backyard, balcony, neighborhood park, greenway, or trail.

Step 2: Observe for At Least 15 Minutes

Watch and listen carefully. Count every bird you see or hear.

Step 3: Record Your Data

Use a tally sheet (like our Nature Sprouts printable!) or a birding app.

Step 4: Submit Your Findings

Enter your observations online during the official event window.

You can participate once — or multiple times over the four days.

🏡 Inviting Birds to Your Backyard

Want to increase the chances of seeing birds? Invite them in!

Providing food, water, and shelter makes your yard more attractive to winter birds — and makes your Great Backyard Bird Count even more exciting for kids.

Simple Ways to Attract Birds:

✔️ Put out a basic seed feeder
✔️ Offer suet during colder months
✔️ Add a shallow water source
✔️ Plant native shrubs for shelter

Easy DIY Bird Feeder Ideas for Kids

• Orange Peel Bird Feeder 🍊
  Scoop out an orange half, poke small holes, string it up, and fill with birdseed. It’s compostable and perfect for little hands to make.

• Reused Pumpkin Bird Feeder 🎃
  After fall festivities, don’t toss that pumpkin! Cut it open, fill it with seed, and place it in your yard as a natural feeder.

You can read our full tutorial here: Reusing Pumpkins as a Natural Bird Feeder

• Pinecone + peanut butter + seed (classic and easy)

Creating feeders becomes part of the learning. Kids begin to understand habitat support, food sources, and how small actions invite wildlife into shared spaces.

Why It Matters for the Environment

Birds are bioindicators — meaning they reflect the health of ecosystems.

When bird populations decline, it can signal:

• Habitat loss

• Pollution

• Urban development impact

• Climate change effects

By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, families help scientists:

• Track species decline or growth

• Identify conservation priorities

• Monitor migration timing shifts

• Protect critical habitats

Your 15-minute observation contributes to global conservation research.

Small hands. Big impact.

🌿 Perfect for EcoExplorer Ornithology Season

The Great Backyard Bird Count fits seamlessly into the EcoExplorer bird-focused programming across the city.

It pairs beautifully with:

• Bird identification hikes

• Nature journaling days

• Feeder observation sessions

• Habitat exploration walks

• Community science discussions

🐦 Join One of These EcoExplorer Bird Events:

( Direct link to EcoExplorer Links)

• Mountains Season Summit: Great Backyard Bird Count & Bird Day

• Harris Lake ecoEXPLORERS – All About Birds!

• Great Backyard Bird Count at the Bluffs

• Bird Trivia Night

These gatherings transform learning into shared community action. Instead of simply learning about birds — we become protectors of them.

Building Environmental Stewardship in Our Children

When children participate in citizen science:

• They see that science is accessible.

• They understand their community matters.

• They develop empathy for wildlife.

• They begin to see themselves as environmental caretakers.

The Great Backyard Bird Count reminds us that conservation doesn’t always require grand gestures.

Sometimes it begins with pausing long enough to notice the sparrow on the fence.

This February, let’s step outside.
Let’s count.
Let’s contribute.
Let’s raise little environmental stewards together.