WILLIAMSBURG — The Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place this month and you can contribute just by identifying the birds around you.
The Great Backyard Bird Count allows people from all over the world to come together and share their love of birds while learning about migration patterns, according to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.
Each year in February, during a four-day span, millions of people count the variety of birds that can be seen and heard in their own backyards, and all are invited to participate in the bird count taking place Feb. 17-20.
Participants need only to log the birds they count in a 15-minute period on at least one of the four days of the event. Participants can download the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify birds or use the eBird Mobile app to enter bird sightings.
“Virginia State Parks provide the perfect location to view many different types of birds,” Chippokes State Park Manager Ben Richard said. “We have self-guided activities at Chippokes where guests can use the iNaturalist app to identify and count the birds they see. February is a great time to come to the park and shake off the winter blues, enjoy the refreshing air and spot a variety of birds that pass through the park or make it their home. We encourage families to get involved and make a game of it.”
Visit virginiastateparks.gov for more information about upcoming events at a state park.
