The 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count for 2010 begins today and runs through Monday, February 15. This is an event where participants across all of North America report the brids they see during at least a 15 minute period on one or more days of the count. Counting is not limited to just backyards... you can count anywhere and at as many places as you would like.

The purpose of this count is to give a snapshot of bird populations across the continent. Scientists use this information to understand how weather and other environmental factors affect bird populations and this in turn provides a barometer of the environmental health of our continent. Comparing results across many years can illustrate environmental trends.

The scientific community is not large enough to perform such a large count...they need our help. Please join in this effort...its fun and easy. For more information visit the GBBC website at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/. You can already see lists being posted!

I've participated for the last few years. Last year there were very few birds in my own backyard, but even this information is important. Knowing where birds are not seen can be an indication of changing weather patterns, local weather variations or declining habitats.

There is also a photo contest associated with the count. In 2007, my photo of a Dark-eyed Junco was selected for display in the contest gallery. I'm hoping to get some worthy images this year. There has been a lot of activity around my feeders lately, and I'm also planning a trip to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on Plum Island in Newburyport, Massachusetts. I'll be searching for Snowy Owls and a variety of waterfowl that cannot be seen at my house.

Here are a few recent images from my backyard...

A Sharp-shinned Hawk looks for a meal.

 A male Red-bellied Woodpecker waits its turn on the suet feeder.

Male Red-bellied and Hairy Woodpeckers share the feeder.

The Sharp-shinned Hawk returned yesterday.