Great Backyard Bird Count (UTRCA weekly, February 18, 2022)

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) encourages you to get involved in the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 18 to 21.

Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) was the first online community science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real time. Community science engages members of the public in collecting data, which can be used to increase scientific knowledge and inform decision making.

Birds Canada joined the project in 2009 to encourage participation from Canadians. In 2013, the GBBC went global with data entered into eBird, the world’s largest biodiversity-related community science project.

Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days people are invited to spend time in their favourite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting their observations. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations.

The Upper Thames River watershed is home to many bird species and provides wonderful birding opportunities. We’ve compiled a list of popular birding areas in the Upper Thames River watershed.

The UTRCA launched two Community Science projects in 2021 aimed at involving local residents in collecting useful environmental information about the watershed.