Guest writer, Dr. C. Edgar, local Burien resident
Hi neighbors, and those interested in saving birds around the world!
From 2015 to 2026, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) has taken place every February across the globe. In 2025, 217 countries participated through the efforts and observations of backyard citizen scientists. All of those bird count lists are submitted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/bring-birds-back/
The count began because of dramatic losses of migratory birds being noticed worldwide. In the United States and Canada, an estimated 3 billion bird losses were observed between 1970 and 2025.
The only way that observed bird data could be accurately collected was to enlist citizen scientists to go out into their backyards or look out the window and count birds.
That is you.
Didn’t Make Bird Fest? You Can Still Count.
If you didn’t make it to the Burien Bird Fest on Feb. 14, 2026, you can still participate.
Simply go into your backyard and count birds for 15 minutes on one of the four days — Feb. 13–16, 2026.
More information is available at:
Great Backyard Bird Count
(https://www.birdcount.org/participate/)
For a state with a world championship football team named after a bird — the Seattle Seahawks — we should aim for championship participation in this count.
And if you missed counting birds this year, there is always February 2027….
How to Participate
Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.
Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.
Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 13–16, 2026.
Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time and location, and use the best tool for sharing your sightings:
- If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to help identify what you are seeing or hearing.
- If you have participated before and want to record numbers of birds, use the eBird Mobile app or enter your list on the eBird website (desktop or laptop).
Step 4: Entering your data through BirdCount.org is easy. Visit the website and look for the tab that says “Submit Observations.”
You can submit your count until March 1, 2026.
Whether you’re in Burien, SeaTac, Normandy Park, Des Moines, or anywhere in the Highline area, your 15 minutes can make a difference.
