Show the wild birds some love – join the Great Backyard Bird Count
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- Last Updated: Wednesday, 12 February 2020 10:59
-by Bonny MacIsaac
Show the wild birds some love – join the Great Backyard Bird Count
This year, I am again delighted to be an ambassador for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). The 23rd Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) will take place from Valentine's Day, Friday, February 14th, through Monday, February 17th. Volunteers from around the world are invited to count the birds they see for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count, then enter their checklists at birdcount.org. Anyone with internet access can participate, no matter what their skill level - it’s a great family activity, too.
There is no better time to get involved because we are facing a bird emergency. In a study published by the journal Science (https://science.sciencemag.org/content/366/6461/120) last fall, scientists revealed a decline of more than one in four birds in the United States and Canada since 1970 - three billion birds gone! In addition to these steep declines, Audubon scientists projected a grim future for birds in Survival By Degrees, a report showing nearly two-thirds of North America’s bird species could disappear due to climate change. (You can read that report here: https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees) Birds from around the world are facing similar challenges and declines. Counting birds for science is one simple action that individuals can take to protect birds and the places where they live.
