Are you Ready? Use these handy tips and guidelines to make the most of your bird count 

Where should I count birds, and for how long?

You can devote as little as 15 minutes on a single day, or as much as you want over the 4-day count period (February 16th-19th). You can stick to your window or yard, or you can count anywhere: your neighborhood, a local park, a rooftop, a national wildlife refuge or sanctuary, or a birding hotspot farther afield. You can also move between locations during the survey, so feel free to visit several different spots.

Submitting your findings online

First, you'll need to create an account on the GBBC website. Don't worry -- is easy! Once you’ve created an account, you can also download the mobile app from the eBird website to enter your checklist information directly into the app. Otherwise, simply track your findings using the checklist we provided, and enter the data later on your computer.

Bird Identification Tips

You might want to study up ahead of time to get a sense of the birds you're likely to see. Most of the species you will encounter will be local and familiar. (Snow Geese and European Starlings always rank among “most numerous” during the count.) The GBBC website offers online guides and ID tips you can use to hone your skills. You can also download the free Merlin ID app, which identifies birds from uploaded photos, or the new iPhone app Song Sleuth, which puts a name to a birdsong. 

Get Out There!

Collecting and reporting data for the GBBC is straightforward: At each location, identify any species you see or hear, and tally up the number of individuals. 

Create a new checklist for each location and time: if you revisit a spot, start a new checklist. Remember to keep track of start and end times for each checklist, as well as distance traveled. The mobile app automatically tracks the time after you open a new checklist. 

Be as accurate as possible, but don’t panic if your numbers aren't precise. Counting a large flock is a challenge. Estimate when you have to: If you tally only 20 birds, but it seems like there are twice that many, 40 is a safe estimate.

Share the Wealth

Once you’ve seen some beautiful birds and collected valuable data, leave the rest to the scientists by submitting your observations. For those using the mobile app, it’s a simple matter of reviewing your checklists for accuracy, adding photos, and then hitting "submit." 

If you plan to record your data by hand, the process is almost as easy: All you have to do is log in to the GBBC website, head to the "submit your observations" page, and then plug in your results and photos. 

Going with a group?

We are happy to help groups or classrooms participate in this program. Please contact us if you would like some direction or a pre-count presentation.

Adapted from this article by Devin Griffiths/National Audubon Society