Great Backyard Bird Count

February 14 – 17, 2025

Get Prepared for the Big Event

We are a few weeks away from the Great Backyard Bird Count, our annual four-day birdwatching event! Let’s get ready, together.

First consider which tool you want to use to enter your sightings. GBBC uses two tools for bird sightings – Merlin Bird ID app or eBird (mobile app and desktop). You can also use eBird mobile and the Merlin Bird ID app together if you download both of them on your mobile device.

Merlin Bird ID app is a great way to identify birds, especially if you are new to birding. You cannot tell us the number of birds for each species using the Merlin Bird ID app, but telling us you “saw X bird at X location” is important data. If you would rather report the number of birds you see, eBird is the better tool.

If you used the Merlin Bird ID app last year and want to up your birding game, try eBird (mobile app or desktop). But, we suggest you take the FREE online eBird Essentials course first! eBird Essentials is a free, self-paced, Bird Academy course that will help you gain confidence when reporting birds sightings to eBird.

Other ways to prepare for the GBBC:

·                  Already have Merlin or eBird? Log in to the tool you want to use this year and make sure you know your username and password.Reach out to us now if you need help.

• If you plan on using Merlin Bird ID app, download the app today to save time. Then, navigate to Explore Birds, to see birds that are common to your area at this time of year.

·                  eBird Mobile is another option for those of you ready to use eBird or interested in sharing the numbers of birds you see. Download the mobile app early to practice.

• If you plan to count using paper and pencil, then enter the data online, a list of species seen in your region may help. Consider downloading a list ahead of time to become familiar with the birds in advance of the event. Video instructions for how to do this on eBird.org/explore can be found here.

In anticipation,

The GBBC Team

BPTMN Member Information – 

Event:  Great Backyard Bird Count  https://www.birdcount.org/

Description:  Launched in 1998 bythe Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great BackyardBird Count (GBBC) was the first online citizen-science project to collect dataon wild birds and to display results in near real time. Birds Canada joined theproject in 2009 to provide an expanded capacity to support participation inCanada. In 2013, GBBC became a global project when participants began enteringdata into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science(community science) project.

Dates:  February 14-17, 2025

Work Plan:   

• Observe birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days of the     event.
• Count all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location
• Share your bird sightings using one of several free online/mobile tools. (See “How to Participate” below)

How to participate:  How to Participate – GreatBackyard Bird Count

Location:  BPTMN member observations are limited to Collin, Hunt, and contiguous counties. You can do this as an individual or with family members. 

Logging VH:  Time spent counting birds can be logged as Cornell: Great Backyard Bird Count. Remember, no more than 12 hours of VH/AT can be logged in one day.