Nature Happenings

THE GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT FEB 17TH - FEB 20TH, ; How to Participate Bird Counting Apps

• Project FeederWatch continues, www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw
• February is National Bird Feeding Month
• Look for early-returning Ruby-throated Hummingbirds during the last week of February.
• Eastern Cottontail mating season.
• American Woodcocks are doing courtship flights.
• American Robin spring migration begins in late February.
• As days lengthen, Tufted Titmice and Cardinals begin to sing.
• Sandhill Cranes can be seen migrating north in late February.
• Hibernating butterflies (Morning Cloak, Comma) emerge on warm days.
• Have houses ready for mature Purple Martins that will return by end of the month.
• Smith's Longspurs will be on their way back to the Arctic by the end of the month.
• Bluebird and other nest boxes need to be cleaned out this month.

As you plan for the Great Backyard Bird Count and Nesting Season, pick up Binoculars, Owl, Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Bluebird and Owl Nesting Boxes, Oriole Feeders Cleaning Supplies, and a variety of foods to attract and watch more birds! Shop IN STORE or ONLINE!  

GBBC:  Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.

Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 17-20, 2023.

Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:

If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell us what birds you are seeing or hearing.
If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop).

If you already contribute to Merlin or eBird, continue what you are doing! All entries over the 4-days count towards GBBC.