Saratoga PLAN and Southern Adirondack Audubon Society are partnering to raise awareness and encourage local participation in this globally significant event. Bird counts are important in order to monitor and study the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time. Events like this help to describe the “big picture” of bird populations.
How to participate:
- Guided Bird Count: Skidmore North Woods, Saturday, February 18, 8am. Led by Southern Adirondack Audubon Society President John Loz. Dress for the weather and woodsy terrain, may require traction devices such as microspikes or snowshoes. Bring binoculars.
- Count from any location! We encourage you to explore Saratoga County and especially the Palmertown Conservation Area which includes Skidmore North Woods, Daniels Road State Forest, Lincoln Mountain State Forest, Moreau Lake State Park, Orra Phelps Preserve, and more.
- Count for as little as 15 minutes, or as long as you want! Report your location, time spent, and any distance traveled (i.e., walked a mile through a park).
- Create an online account to enter your checklist of species. Submit one checklist per observation period (i.e., separate lists for morning and afternoon counts of your backyard bird feeder)
- Share your printable checklist and birding location with Saratoga PLAN.
- Visit Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count website for more instructions.
Do you wonder which birds are most popular in your neighborhood, county, state, or region? Do you have a bird feeder outside your window or in your yard? Join a global community of birders and naturalists and make observations in your own backyard! Submit your observations online and contribute to a global dataset of bird species distribution, richness, and abundance.
Bird counts are important in order to monitor and study the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time. Events like this help to describe the “big picture” of bird populations.
Last year’s count included more than 130 countries, over 5,600 bird species, and more than 162,000 individuals. Join this year’s count as a citizen-scientist and submit your count online!