Birds are everywhere in our lives. Can you think of a day that went by without seeing or hearing a bird? If you are the type of person who enjoys watching birds through a window or in a nearby park, you might be interested in participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun event held in February each year. Like a photograph, the count provides a snapshot of what bird species and numbers are present at a particular location. Together, citizen scientists capture many details of a place and time, which contribute to our collective understanding of bird life in North America. Over time, we may see trends in bird populations. For example, GBBC participants have helped track the spread of Eurasian Collared-Doves. Native to Asia, Eurasian Collared-Doves were introduced into the Bahamas in 1975 and have been expanding their range ever since. They first appeared in Florida in the 1980s and arrived in Kansas in the 1990s. In the most recent count, participants reported Eurasian Collared-Doves in 40 states and provinces, and it was reported from Alaska for the first time during the 2011 GBBC.

This year’s count will be held February 17- 20, 2012. To celebrate birds, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center is hosting a GBBC event on February 18. More information is available on our calendar. While space is limited for the progam, anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society with Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada. And you can count birds anywhere—your backyard, a nearby park, schoolyard—anywhere there are birds! We encourage you to join the hundreds of thousands of citizen scientists who are participating in this great event.