Naturalist Shares Facts and Tips in Advance of Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb 13-16)
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Feb. 10, 2026)
Berkley, MI – There are 10,906 known species of birds in the entire world, and last year on the weekend of The Great Backyard Bird Count, citizen scientists across the globe were able to record observations of 8,078 of them.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a massive effort to get a snapshot in time that helps scientists who study birds and their patterns. This combined by year-round reporting by professionals and amateurs helps researchers learn the best ways to protect the important creatures and their role in the earth’s ecosystem.
To encourage people to participate, Benjamin Prowse, a naturalist with Oakland County Parks, gave a presentation at the Berkley Library. Prowse shared details about the Great Backyard Bird Count, fun bird facts, as well as tips for wannabe bird watchers. This year’s Count takes place Feb. 13-16, and anyone is welcome to join in.
The Count began in 1998, started by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. In 2013 it became a global project with 143,000 participants. In 2020 participation skyrocketed as people searched for ways to keep busy while social distancing through the pandemic; and the release of the Merlin app in 2021 further fueled interest and accessibility.
Last year 838,113 people participated, collectively observing 74% of known bird species in the world over the course of just three days. Over 200,000 of those people were in the United States, but other countries searched hard as well, with India, Canada, and Australia following close behind.
Merlin Bird ID is one of the apps Prowse recommends. Merlin is an identification tool that also shares sightings with the Cornell database. It identifies birds by sound or by picture.
The eBird app, also by Cornell, tracks sightings as well as pathways taken by the user. There are interactive maps and more community input, including rare bird alerts. eBird reports also contribute data to the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Another useful app is Audubon Bird Guide, which is an interactive field guide that has a library of songs, range maps, photos, history and facts about different species.
Prowse recalled a special day last year in May where eBird gave an alert that a Yellowthroat Warbler was spotted at Red Oaks Nature Center, where Prowse works. “Everyone left work to come see it. Our parking lot was overflowing. It hung out on our nature center roof half the day and all these people stood around taking pictures and adding it to their lists.”
Birders regularly make his job easier with their use of apps. “I come in at 9 am and I’ve already got a report of what birds are in my park that day,” he said.
The apps also help people to learn more about the birds they see and hear.
For example, one might learn that the Cowbird is a brood parasites. That means they have a habit of knocking eggs out of the nests of other species and laying their eggs in their place. “The other birds can’t recognize those are not their eggs. The cow bird chick takes all the resources away from the other birds in the nest,” Prowse said.
Woodpeckers are also fascinating creatures. “Woodpecker tongues are adapted either to grab, or to lap up sap,” Prowse said. “Their tongues also warp around the inside of their head to cushion it,” explaining how they can peck at trees with such force.
Another fact people may not know is that many birds who migrate do so at night, using the moon and stars for navigation. The atmosphere is more settled at night, and the cooler air helps them fly more efficiently.
But when birds come across light pollution, it can cause confusion and disorientation. Sometimes birds get “trapped” by light sources, flying around them endlessly until they fall from the sky in exhaustion.
Turning off lights is a great way to help birds, especially during times of heavy migration. Other ways Prowse shared to help protect birds include putting decals on windows to prevent birds from flying into them, keeping cats indoors, avoiding pesticides, drinking shade-grown coffee which is harvested without harming birds, protecting the planet from plastics, and the simple act of watching birds and sharing what you see helps protect the populations.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a great place to start. People can watch for birds anywhere – including their own backyards, or even local parks. All one needs to do is simply watch and listen for birds, and document them. Merlin and E-Birds are great apps that automatically contribute results to the global effort. People can also visit http://www.birdcount.org to learn more and share data.
“Imagine almost a million people getting out and participating in citizen science,” Prowse said. “It’s so hopeful when you think about it.”
Learn more about Oakland County Parks at https://www.oakgov.com/community/oakland-county-parks.
