Bird of the World

Many birds are international, pretty much disregarding countries' borders, so it makes sense for bird-counting efforts to harness the power of the global community.

This year, the Great Backyard Bird Count and eBird are teaming up to do just that. As this announcement from the GBBC states, the count, which runs February 15-18, will contribute to the overall, worldwide findings for 2013.

Anyone can participate, and it's exciting that this year's event will connect the whole world. For more information, click here. Then, go out and make every bird count.

This One Counts

Another opportunity for citizen science is coming up this week. The Great Backyard Bird Count runs February 17-20.

By enlisting the aid of the general public, the count helps scientists track bird populations and provides insight into the overall health of different bird species. Individuals can participate by watching birds for as little as 15 minutes during one of the days, or they can commit even more time if they like. Sharing the results online gives everyone an easy way to contribute and see what others are finding.

The count is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Audubon Society. For more information, click here.