Great Backyard Birdcount

Sixteenth Annual Great Backyard Bird Count Is Right Around the Corner!

 Southampton, PA – The Friends of Tamanend Park invite everyone to participate in the 16th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).  The 2013 count will be held President’s Weekend, February 15 – 18, 2013. 

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Create a GBBC account.  Beginning in 2013, the GBBC will be integrated with eBird--a worldwide bird data collection program used for keeping track of your personal bird records and bird lists. The change means you must create a free GBBC account in order to enter your bird checklists, even if you have participated in the GBBC before. It also means you will be able to access all your GBBC observations and eBird observations under a single account. If you're already registered with eBird, you can use the same login information.

2. Count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. You can count for longer than that if you wish! Count birds in as many places and on as many days as you like—one day, two days, or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. You can also submit more than one checklist per day for each new location or even from the same location. Estimate the number of individuals of each species you saw during your count period.

3. Enter your results on the GBBC website (or eBird). You'll see a button marked "Enter Your Checklists!" on the GBBC website home page beginning at 7:00 AM Eastern time (U.S.) on the first day of the count. See our downloadable instructions below for additional details on entering your checklists via your GBBC account. If you already use eBird, please continue using eBird to submit your sightings but be sure to enter at least one checklist during the GBBC weekend!

To encourage participation, The Bucks County Audubon Society and The Friends of Tamanend Park are holding a count and winter hike on Sunday, February 17 from 2:30-4:30 pm.  After a brief introduction and instructions we’ll head out to the bird blind and then hike the property to find and count birds.  Checklists and instructions will also be available. We are especially encouraging Southampton residents to participate as part of Upper Southampton Township’s Bird Town initiative: the township with the most checklists submitted will win an award!

Contact Thomas Hibbs: 215-355-0748 for more information.

The Friends of Tamanend is a 501 (3c) non profit organization who’s mission is to maintain, conserve, and protect the unique natural and historic features of Tamanend Park.  The Park is located at 1255 Second Street Pike, Southampton, PA 18966. Call (215) 672-1248  for membership information.  On the web: http://friendsoftamanend.org/