ROOTS & SHOOTS
The Great Backyard Bird Count
This February, our Roots & Shoots Club participated in The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Participants count birds anywhere for as little or as long as they wish during the four-day period. They tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any one time. Then, they report their counts by filling out an online checklist at the Great Backyard Bird Count website. As the count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own towns or anywhere in the United States and Canada. They can also see how this year's numbers compare with those from previous years.
Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.
Scientists use the counts, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to give us an immense picture of our winter birds. Each year that these data are collected makes them more meaningful and allows scientists to investigate far-reaching questions.
Scientists use the counts, along with observations from other citizen-science projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and eBird, to give us an immense picture of our winter birds. Each year that these data are collected makes them more meaningful and allows scientists to investigate far-reaching questions.
Our Roots &Shoots Club observed crows and a woodpecker. They were assisted in their watch by their intrepid club leader, Melissa McKibbin, by Linda & Dave Titterington of the Wild Bird Habitat Store, Naomi Alhadeff from Nebraska Games & Parks Commission, and Melodee Landis, Nature-Lover Extraordinaire! Dave Titterington also brought in a barred owl for the kids to see.
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