It's almost here - the

Great Backyard Bird Count will take place

February 15 - 18, 2013. Join tens of thousands of participants from around the world as we all count birds for science and conservation. Everyone can count - beginners to experts, individuals or groups, kids and grownups too! Count for just a few minutes or all four days. It's really easy. Our Facebook fans have been doing great on our quizzes - so you guys are ready! 

Why count birds? Scientists and birders use the data to see trends in how weather, food sources, migration timing, habitat loss and other factors affect bird populations. Last year's record-breaking results included 104,151 checklists submitted, with a total of 17.4 million individual birds counted. Northern Cardinals and Mourning Doves were on the most checklists. Snow Geese and Tree Swallows were the most numerous due to huge flocks in some areas. Snowy Owls and Redpolls expanded their winter ranges in response to fluctuating food supplies, and milder winters meant fewer ducks and coots on southern counts.

One of the most dramatic trends has been the expansion of Eurasian Collared-Doves. Originally released as pets in the Bahamas in 1980, they quickly spread up through Florida and Georgia and across the US to California by 2001. Will their numbers affect their smaller cousins the Mourning Dove in the future?

Beginning this year, each participant must set up a free GBBC account to submit their checklists. You only have to do this once and you are good to go. We know lots of our customers are great photographers, so please enter the photo contest too! Do you have a bunch of Pine Siskins this year? What about a wintering hummingbird? Even your common backyard birds will make a difference! Come on, Bird Watchers!

Explore  www.birdsource.org to get started! And if you really like counting and contributing to science, consider joining eBird. Make your bird lists count year round! Visit www.ebird.org for more info.