Are you ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) this President's Day Weekend – this Valentine's weekend? This Friday the 13th? As we have announced in earlier issues, this exciting annual birding event will take place this Friday, February 13th thru Monday the 16th across the United States and Canada, and around the world! It's a remarkable birding event that brings people together with the common interest in birding – people of all nations, ages, sexes, races, religions, politics, and persuasions – everyone with an interest in birds and birding, coming together in a uniting activity that contributes to the science and understanding of birds, and of ourselves.
Much more than a backyard activity, as the original name implies, you are welcome to participate by birding at your feeding station, in your yard, neighborhood, a city park, nature center, wildlife refuge – actually, anywhere in the world! And you can join the action during a portion of 1 day, some days, or all 4 days of the event – for as long as you wish to identify and count birds – 15 minutes, 40 minutes, 2 hours, all morning, all afternoon – anytime, anywhere, as many times as you wish during the 4-day global birding event. And by participating, you join a remarkable throng of people worldwide who will record each of their bird count lists on eBird.
During last year's 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count, birders demonstrated that we can and will come together as birders worldwide. Birders reported 8,078 species of the world's birds, which was also 158 more species than recorded in 2024! This event is continuing to grow in popularity, just as birding activities increase in numbers and interest. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will be birding during the 4 days in February when the birds at your feeders and anywhere are counted. To refer to last year's results, see Explore 2025 Final Results
Beginning as a feeder watching event in 1998, the GBBC has become a global winter survey of birds – and with that in mind, it certainly seems as though it is truly time to change the name – perhaps to the Great Winter Bird Count … Learn more at Great Backyard Bird Count 2026—joining together for the love of birds! - eBird, and have fun participating this extended weekend!