February 12-15, 2010 - This was the weekend of The Great Backyard Bird Count. It's the 20th today and I still find myself counting when I look out of my windows.

The data gathered by young and old bird watchers will be used by scientists in understanding winter bird populations throughout North America. Information can compare birds with weather conditions; follow any irruptive species for this winter; note possible changes in migration patterns; match bird to preferred types of habitats; and calculate trends of increasing or declining populations.

Being part of this important count is a way to give back to the researchers who freely share information on all things bird with everyone who asks. Armed with knowledge gained by these new counts and even our own observations, we can become better caregivers to the special birds who visit our backyards.  Plus it's just plain fun!

This picture shown is one of the photos I sent to the photo gallery for The Great Backyard Bird Count.  (www.birdsource.org to view other birder pictures from this count and previous years from present back to 2005)