Counting Down to the Count
It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds! What is it? The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
The GBBC starts in just two weeks! Everyone can participate—from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, between February 14th-17th. Involve your students in counting birds on your school grounds.
Why Count Birds? Scientists can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document and understand the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.
People who care about birds can change the world. — Gary Langham, Audubon chief scientist.
Find out how to participate at the GBBC website. You’ll also find lots of suggestions and tips for counting birds with children.
INSIDE: Audubon Adventures
Get ready for the Count by introducing your students to birds. A great resource is Audubon Adventures. They’re high-quality magazines filled with vibrant photos and lively illustrations. A subscription consists of class sets (32 of each) of 4 separate magazines especially for grades 3-5.
The magazines capture students’ interest and are correlated to Common Core Standards. Each magazine comes with a stand-alone Teacher Guide, which includes lesson plans, vocabulary words, and review questions and activities.
OUTSIDE: The Top Ten List
Stop, look, and listen and the chances are you will see one of the “ten most reported birds” from previous GBBC’s—Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, Blue Jay, American Goldfinch, American Crow, Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, Black-capped Chickadee, and Tufted Titmouse.
Get your kids involved in birding with the following resources just for Educators:
MORE FACTS AND FUN WITH BIRDS
Want to inspire youngsters to appreciate birds? The BLUES books are the ticket. As one major reviewer said, it’s “a lighthearted romp with solid information on birds and bird-watching that could inspire future ornithologists.”