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Great Backyard Bird Count

About

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is held Friday through Sunday in mid February each year. People of all ages and skill levels are needed to count birds in their yards, neighborhoods, parks, or other locations across the United States and Canada. It's easy to participate and it's free. The goal of the GBBC is to take a snapshot of where birds are across North America, and everyone, from novices to experienced birders, is invited to participate.  Be a citizen scientist and help count birds for the GBBC.

2012 Dates

The 15th annual GBBC takes place on Friday, February 17 through Monday, February 20, 2012

Instructions

You can count as many locations as you want and count up to all four days of the count period. Follow these instructions for each day/location that you count birds. Each location/day must be submitted separately. Counts can be either stationary or traveling.
  1. Pick any location to count birds (e.g. a yard, neighborhood, park, or lake).
  2. Record the city or zipcode of the location, see zip code locator map.
  3. Record the time you start counting at the location.
  4. Count for at least 15 minutes -- longer if you wish.
  5. Record how long you counted at the location
  6. For a stationary count, record the highest number of each species that you see together at one time
  7. For a traveling count, keep a running total of the number of each species as you move
  8. Submit the date, location, start time, time spent, and species counts at Great Backyard Bird Count
For more information, go to the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Types of Counts

Stationary Count: This is a count made in one area, such as your backyard, where you remain in one place. In this case, simply report the highest number of each species seen together at one time, as usual.
 
Traveling Count: This is a count made over a distance, such as birding on a trail. In this case you will count new birds of each species as you move along, but only if you can be relatively certain you did not count them previously. You’ll add the numbers for each species at the end of your walk.

Tools

  • GBBC Data form (PDF) can be printed and used to record information about your location until you are ready to enter the information into the website.
  • Checklist Worksheet (PDF) is a one page sheet of the most commonly seen winter species in the Topeka area. Species are divided into subcategories to make it easier to record counts, while in the field. It also has space for to write in species not on the form.
  • Zip code locator map for Shawnee County will help you determine the zip code of any location you are counting

2011 Topeka Vicinity Results

All results are reported by zipcode. These are the zip codes in and around Topeka.

2011 Kansas Results 

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