Bird watchers of all ages and skill levels are needed to count birds during the period of February 16-19 to create a midwinter snapshot of the numbers, kinds and distribution of birds across the continent.

Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes to as long as they wish and tally the highest number of each species they view at any one time during the Great Backyard Bird Count. They then enter their tally on the Great Backyard Bird Count Web site at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. 

How to participate:

1.  Watch birds for at least 15 minutes at your chosen location.  This may be a birdfeeder, in a schoolyard or a favorite spot in the woods.

2.  For each kind of bird you see, tally the highest number of individuals you observe at any one time.

        If you would like to see or print out a bird checklist for Ohio to help organize your tallies, they are available on the Web site.

3.  At the end of the day, or anytime before March 1, go to www.birsdsource.org/gbbc and click on Submit Your Bird Checklist. Enter your location, habitat, count duration, and high counts for each species sighted each day and location. You may submit one bird checklist for each day you count or for each new area in which you count.

If you do not have Internet access, public computers are available at both the Coolville Public Library and the Eastern Public Library during the hours posted below.  Bird guides are also available at each library.

Last year bird watchers tallied 623 bird species and 7.5 million individual birds.  Participants sent in more than 60,000 checklists. Among other things, data indicated continued drops of American Crows and provided regional rarities such as a Black-throated Blue Warbler in Connecticut.  Observers in the Route 7 Report birding area, Carthage and Troy townships in Athens County and Orange and Olive townships in Meigs County could theoretically record as many as 101 species, although 74 would be considered remarkable.  Reporting 50 species would be very good.  A backyard feeder watcher could record 34 or so species.

If you need help or have questions, call Allan Elberfeld at 740-667-6465 who will be participating and is an ambassador for the event.  Have fun and good birding! 

Coolville Public Library  81 Main St. 740-667-3354

Monday-Friday 11:00 am - 6:00 pm        Saturday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm 

Eastern Public Library   38990 State Rt 7  740-985-3747

Hours when school is in session:  Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm    Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Hours when school is not session:  Monday-Saturday 10:00 - 6:00 pm