Thanks, Skybird, for the additional encouragement for people to participate in the GBBC.

I always count in my yard and often in other spots in the neighborhood (marsh, canal) where there are interesting birds to be seen. If I don't recognize a bird my camera is there with me and ready to help.

I also enjoy watching the results come in from different parts of the world. Did the people in Nunavut see the ravens again? And what wonderful names birds have in the tropics!

Hoping for good weather for the GBBC!

Claire

Hi Claire,

It's been a few years since I've sat and "watched" the map for a while, but one year right after I entered my counts I first watched mine show up on the map and then I sat for a while and watched to see where other counts were being entered--I wound up mostly watching other places than the U. S.--and I was amazed when I'd see a count show up that "appeared" to be "in the middle of the ocean," so I'd zoom in really close and discover islands I never even knew existed! It was--I thought!--incredibly interesting to watch how many places/countries had people counting birds, all on the same day!

We're supposed to have some fairly chilly weather out here in Denver over the weekend, but for me, counting from inside, that just makes it more likely that more birds will show up at my--currently 10--feeders that are on posts about 3 yards outside of the window where I sit--and the birdbath that's less than a foot from the window. I'm hoping for a really good "show" this year!

Good luck to you--and anyone else who decides to Count Birds!

Skybird

P.S. One year I had FOURTEEN robins show up at the bath, all at the same time--in February--in Denver! I could hardly believe it when more and more kept flying in--and they just happened to do it during the GBBC! Today I had a yellow flicker--which we rarely see out here--show up at the suet, and I'm really hoping it comes back during the count!

Skybird: It sounds like you have a good set-up for enticing the birds to visit your yard.

I also see robins in the winter, mostly coming to the birdbaths although they will eat any remaining berries on the hollies and winterberry.

One GBBC year I decided to go to the Cape Cod Canal to see what birds were there on the water. To my great surprise I saw a huge raft, in the hundreds, of ducks riding the current. They were mostly common eiders and probably enjoying being transported effortlessly to new feeding grounds, although I can't rule out joy-riding.

The current changes direction twice a day due to the tides and the ducks traversed the Canal. I learned to start at one end and check different areas until I found the rafts. This is just a winter phenomenon - the ducks leave when the weather gets good (the opposite of the seasonal human tourist wave).

Some rain and snow is forecast but there should be plenty of good weather for the GBBC weekend. Tomorrow is the first count day.

Claire

This is the second day of the 2019 GBBC and the checklists are rolling in.

GBBC checklist map

Map as of 6:42 PM Feb 16, 2019

Claire

GBBC eNewsletter February 17, 2019

"Count Update

The checklists are pouring in for the Great Backyard Bird Count and as of Sunday morning in the United States, more than 67,000 tallies have been entered. Those lists include more than half the bird species in the world with about 5,500 species reported!"

The 2019 GBBC newsletter has been published:

"GBBC Sets New Records

Thanks to the efforts of so many bird watchers around the world, the 2019 Great Backyard Bird Count is one for the record books! By every measure, this year's event topped all previous levels of participation, checklists, and species reported. Below are the figures as of March 14, 2019.

Species: 6,699

Checklists: 204,921

Estimated Participants: 224,781"

GBBC eNewsletter March 21, 2019

2019 GBBC Summary

I haven't seen the 2019 Photo Contest Winners yet - always some great photos.

Claire