Latest news with #eBirdMobile
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why are people counting birds on Friday? How the Big Backyard Bird count is helping the environment
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The Big Backyard Bird count is currently underway all around the globe. Throughout the day Friday, February 14, people from around the globe will be counting birds. The numbers will then be sent to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This data gives an idea of bird populations around the world, which provides insight into the health of the global environment. Here in Terre Haute, the Wabash Valley Audubon Society is participating in the count at the Dobbs Park Nature Center and they are inviting the public to come and join them. Smart bird feeders are the gift of the season — here are some bestsellers 'You can come in and bird with us and if you're not a birder, you can learn some birds. If you are, you can help count,' said Carissa Lovet, a Naturalist for the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department. 'There is a lot of variety around out here. You can probably see on really cold days probably 20 to 25 species of birds out here.' The Big Backyard Bird Count lasts from February 14 through February 17. If you missed your chance to join the Wabash Valley Audubon Society count birds on Friday, they will be back at the Dobbs Park Nature Center Saturday from 11-11:30 p.m., 1-1:30 p.m. and 3-3:30 p.m. The Audubon Society says participants will just need to bring a pair of binoculars (if you don't have a pair you may borrow one), the Merlin Bird ID and/or eBird Mobile app, your favorite bird book and a pair of good listening ears. For more information, you can head to or call the Nature Center at (812)877-1095. Terre Haute addressing crow problem again Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
14-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
A few minutes of bird watching this weekend can help scientists: Here's how
It might be Valentine's Day – but this weekend is for more than just love birds. The Great Backyard Bird Count is back. Held between Feb. 14 and 17 every year, the event invites nature enthusiasts around the world to watch and count as many birds as they can in their 'favorite places.' Now in its 28th year, the event, organized by the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, aims to help scientists better understand the global bird population. Data collected over the four-day span each year provides necessary information on where birds are living and long-term changes in their populations. February might sound like a chilly time of the year for bird watching, depending on where you live. But Benjamin Haywood, the National Audubon Society's Director of Community Science, said the event was originally designed to help capture where birds lived in the Northern Hemisphere before they began their annual spring migrations. More than 550,000 people across 200 countries participated in last year's bird count. They found 7,538 different species – roughly two-thirds of the over 10,000 known species on the planet. Haywood said more than 200 scientific articles were published using the data collected. Watch:Bald eagles lock talons in Alaska tree: 'I couldn't believe what I saw' "When we take a closer look at where birds are, we can understand what species need to survive and how we can better support them and their well being," Haywood said. How to Participate Time commitment: Organizers recommend watching and counting birds for no less than 15 minutes at least one time over the four-day period. Where: You can count birds anywhere you want – whether that's in your backyard, at a local park or on a hike. How do I identify birds? Amateur bird watchers can use the Merlin Bird ID app on their phones to figure out what species are flying around their area. How do I report details? Participants can enter information about the number of birds and species on the eBird Mobile app or eBird website. Need more information? Check out How popular is bird watching in America? Around 96 million people across the U.S. – or 3 in 10 Americans – engage in bird watching, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Roughly 95% of those birders do so from the comfort of their own backyards. But birding is also a major economic driver that helps boost tourism, retail sales and conservation efforts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that bird watching supported an estimated 1.4 million jobs and generated an economic output of $279 billion in 2022. "The more we enjoy birds together, the more likely it is that we take steps to protect them and the places they need,' said Brooke Bateman, the National Audubon Society's senior director of Climate and Community Science.
