Photo by Jerry Acton, NY

The 14th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is coming up February 18-21, 2011. The four-day event is free and is open to bird watchers of all ages and skill levels.

Tens of thousands of people throughout the United States and Canada participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count each year.   The 2010 GBBC was another record-breaker with more than 97,300 bird checklists submitted by an estimated 63,000 volunteers from across the United States and Canada.

You can count in your backyard, off your balcony, in a local park, or at a nature center.  You count for as little as 15 minutes on one day or for as long as you like during any of the days of the event. 

It's easy to participate.  You tally the highest number of birds of each species seen together at any time.  Then you fill out an online checklist at the Backyard Bird Count website.

Then you'll get to see the results by state as the information is updated. 

Download a Great Backyard Bird Count Instruction Sheet.

The Backyard Bird count is a great way to get kids into birding.  Involve the whole family!