Great Backyard Bird Count

Contribute to community science and learn new birding skills during the Great Backyard Bird Count!

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online community science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 160,000 people worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.

Led by experienced birder Frank Smith and the Alan Devoe Bird Club, we will collect population data about the birds seen at Ooms in Chatham.

What to expect: We will walk about one mile on mowed paths with a max grade of 15%. We may be stopping and standing still for long periods to observe birds. Learn more details about the trails at Ooms here.

What to bring: Bring binoculars and water, and wear weather-appropriate clothing: layers, a hat, gloves, and warm shoes. Downloading a free bird identification app like Merlin or eBird will be helpful, but not required, for this program!

What not to bring: Please, no dogs.

We are proud to offer this program for free to the public with a suggested five-dollar donation. This gift will allow CLC to continue offering programs like these at no cost and support land conservation work.

Interested to learn more? View the ‘Get Ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count Webinar‘ hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology!