Counting birds in your backyard can be a fun and rewarding hobby. With some preparation and the right techniques, you’ll be able to get accurate counts of the feathered friends visiting your yard. This allows you to track populations over time and compare diversity between seasons. Follow these tips to start monitoring your backyard birds!
Why Count Birds?
There are several great reasons to count the birds in your backyard:
- It’s fun! Birdwatching is an engaging activity and seeing the variety of birds that visit your yard can be exciting.
- It helps conservation. The data you collect can be submitted to programs like the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch. This helps scientists track bird populations.
- You learn more about birds. You’ll become better at identifying different species and learn about their behavior patterns.
- You can attract new species. Tracking what you see lets you figure out how to improve your backyard habitat to attract more varieties.
Choose a Count Frequency
Decide how often you want to conduct your bird counts. Here are some options:
- Daily: Counting birds daily provides the most detailed data but does require more time. It’s great if you have an abundant bird population or are participating in a structured monitoring program.
- Weekly: Counting birds once a week, such as every Saturday morning, is a good compromise. You’ll get useful data without an everyday commitment.
- Monthly: Monthly counts work well for more casual birders. The less frequent counts may miss some species but can still provide helpful population trends.
Choose a frequency that fits your schedule and interest level. You can always adjust it later on. Daily or weekly counts are best for getting to know your yard’s bird patterns.
Pick a Count Time
The time of day impacts the birds you’ll see. Here are guidelines for choosing the best count time:
- Morning: The most active time for backyard birds is the early morning when they’re looking for food. Aim for shortly after sunrise.
- Midday: Counting around midday will produce lower numbers but may include species that don’t visit early or late.
- Evening: Late afternoon or early evening counts capture birds visiting for their final meal of the day.
Early morning is typically best as birds flock to feeders at first light. Be consistent and count at the same time each day to get comparable data.
Have the Right Gear
You don’t need much specialized equipment to count backyard birds. These basic supplies will help you accurately ID and tally species:
- Bird field guide: A book or app to help identify species.
- Binoculars: Preferably 8x or 10x magnification. This helps see key ID features.
- Notebook and pen: Record each type of bird you see and their numbers.
- Bird feeders: Full feeders attract more birds to view and count.
- Water source: A birdbath or water fountain draws in more birds.
Situate yourself with a view of your feeders and water sources. Have your field guide, notebook and binoculars ready to go!
Focus Your Count Area
Define the specific area that will be your count location. This focuses your efforts and creates consistency. Good choices include:
- Feeders, water sources and immediate surrounding area
- View from a window overlooking your yard
- Specific zone like just the front yard or backyard
If your property is large or you want expanded data, you can pick several set areas to count each time. Just be sure the zones don’t overlap to avoid double counting.
Record Your Observations
Having a standardized system for recording your counts is key. Include these elements:
- Date and time
- Weather conditions
- Number of each species seen
- Any notable behavior or abnormalities
Make neat, detailed notes each time even if it’s your own backyard. Over time, you’ll amass data that’s valuable for detecting trends. Entering records online, such as through Project FeederWatch, allows it to be used for research too.
Identify Challenging Birds
Some backyard visitors can be tricky to positively identify. Here are tips for distinguishing similar species:
- Compare size and proportion – Is one species larger or stockier?
- Watch for key field marks – Color patterns, eye rings, wing bars etc.
- Note the bird’s behavior – Feeding habits can be clues.
- Pay attention to sound – Learn songs, calls and chip notes.
- Be patient – Watch the bird from multiple angles and in different light.
If you just can’t be sure, take lots of notes and photos to analyze later. Don’t fudge an ID – enter it as an unknown species if needed.
Avoid Double Counting
When tallying your sightings, be careful not to count any individual bird more than once. Accidental double counting can skew your data. Methods to avoid it include:
- Track flight paths – Note when a bird leaves or enters your count area.
- Identify males vs. females – Count each distinctive bird just once.
- Map perches – Remember where specific birds land to feed or rest.
- Compare bands/tags – Look for color bands or tags on feet to recognize return birds.
With practice, you’ll get better at visually “keeping tabs” on individual birds visiting your yard throughout the count period.
Be Consistent
To get valid, useful data, consistency is key when counting your backyard birds. Follow these best practices:
- Stick to your schedule – Count at the same time of day and intervals.
- Don’t change your count area – Use the exact same observation zones.
- Minimize disturbances – Avoid chasing birds off mid-count.
- Record diligently – Note every species and numbers each time.
- Use the same ID process – Follow your system for identifying birds.
Controlling variables like timing, location and methods provides comparable, reliable data on your backyard birds over time.
Common Backyard Birds to Track
While you can record every species, these common birds are good ones to focus on counting in your yard:
| Bird | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Chickadee | Small round body, black cap and bib, busy acrobatics at feeder |
| Northern Cardinal | Bright red males, crest on head, thick conical bill |
| Blue Jay | Blue, black and white markings, blue crest, loud calls |
| American Goldfinch | Bright yellow body, black forehead and wings, bouncy flight |
| Mourning Dove | Pale brown body, long tapered tail, soft coos |
These species are widespread, easy to identify and likely to visit yard feeders in moderate numbers. Tracking them over time provides helpful population data.
Submit Your Data
To expand the value of your counts, consider submitting your backyard bird data. Programs like Project FeederWatch accept observations from across North America to monitor bird populations. Here’s how to participate:
- Review requirements and register online at sites like feederwatch.org
- Conduct standardized counts from November to April
- Enter your data through their online portal
- Your sightings are added to their dataset for research
Joining community science programs gives scientists access to your local bird data, aiding large-scale research. And you get to see visualizations of your counts compared to others!
Attract More Birds
Use your count data to figure out ways to bring more feathered friends flocking to your yard. Try these tips:
- Add feeder variety – Different feeders attract different species.
- Supplement water – A clean birdbath is a magnet on hot days.
- Offer cover – Thickets, brush piles and roost boxes provide protection.
- Plant native vegetation – Berries, seeds and nectar for food and habitat.
- Reduce threats – Limit predators like cats and raptors.
Pay attention to the birds in your counts and what additions might better meet their needs. More food, water and shelter should bring more birds!
Use Your Data
The data you collect from backyard bird counts has lots of helpful uses beyond submitting to research. You can:
- Track migration patterns and first spring arrivals
- Compare diversity and numbers across seasons
- Detect declining species to give extra habitat support
- See trends in species prevalence over years
- Identify prime birdwatching times in your yard
Analyze your notes to learn more about your local birds. Let it inform your birdfeeding and landscaping choices for a more bird-friendly yard.
Common Challenges
Backyard bird counting comes with a few natural challenges. Here are some to be aware of:
- Time commitment – Frequent counts take dedication. Start small if needed.
- Interruptions – Dogs, cats, or other distractions can disrupt counts.
- Poor visibility – Snow, rain, or overgrown vegetation can impede observations.
- Bird movement – Flocks passing through briefly can be difficult to track.
- Irregular times – Skipping counts or varying timing reduces data reliability.
Practice, persistence, and good record keeping helps overcome these obstacles. And remember to just relax and have fun watching your yard birds!
Conclusion
Counting and recording the birds in your backyard takes some effort but provides rewarding opportunities. You’ll contribute to scientific knowledge about bird populations while becoming a more informed birder yourself. Inventorying your yard’s feathered visitors deepens your connection with nature right at home. Get started with your bird counting today!
