Is Your Backyard Ready for Returning Birds? Here's a Checklist!

Is Your Backyard Ready For the Birds of Spring? Helpful Checklist

• rake, clean up yard, remove old seed hulls  
• make a brush pile for your birds                 
• remove dead and dangling branches    
• purchase colorful early spring flowers to attract your feathered friends    
• when planting gardens, use organic and non-toxic fertilizers and insecticides; remember the birds are your best insect defense!                
• clean bird feeders  
• clean bird houses  
• clean bird baths       2 to 3" deep with rocks and pebbles for sure footing                
• add nectar feeders for orioles and hummingbirds              
• prevent window collisions                            
• add bird nesting materials (nesting ball instructions)
• make sure your camera batteries are fresh so you are ready to snap pics of beautiful birds and colorful blooms!

8 Easy Ways to Landscape Under Bird Feeders

The Colors That Bring Birds to Your Yard and Gardens

Secrets to a Healthy Backyard

Birdbaths:  Best Placement and Maintenance Tips

Building the Ultimate Brush Pile for Birds!

How to Make a Hummingbird Feeder Wreath--It's Easy!

Why Do Birds Fly Into Windows?

Best Pruners and Loppers

Make a Fun & Easy Bird Journal

How to Make a Bird Nesting Basket in 5 Easy Steps

Grandma Pearl

How To Become A Citizen Scientist, No Matter What Your Age!

It Can Take As Little As 15 Minutes to Help Researchers, and It's Free!

Blue Jay at the Bird Feeder during a snow storm
by Grandma Pearl

It's Fun and It's Free

If you love to watch birds, no matter where you are, then you are well on your way to becoming a Citizen Scientist!  

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count (also known as GBBC) is coming!  Feb 14th through Feb 17th -- Mark your calendar.  The birds you count will be added to the worldwide data base.  Researchers and scientists will have unlimited access to all this invaluable information in their efforts to analyze bird populations and habitats.  

The data gathered helps them determine what is needed to help those birds whose habitats are shrinking, how healthy are bird populations overall, and what can be done internationally to insure our beautiful birds will survive and thrive.

No matter what your age, no matter where you live on the planet, you can participate.  School children, senior groups, individuals of all ages are welcome and encouraged to count birds.  This can be done from your own home bird feeders, a park you like to visit, schoolyard, workplace, etc.  It's so important for the birds!

You can spend just 15 minutes of one day during the 4-day period, or you can decide how much time and how many days you want to participate.  Go to ebird.org to signup and learn about the simple process of submitting your checklists online. Get ready to become an official Citizen Scientist!

Great Backyard Bird Count

GBBC Newsletter for news, tips and information about Citizen Science projects

Grandma Pearl

Citizen Science:  Best Hope For Wild Bird Survival?