Great Backyard Bird Hunt kicks off next week

The Great Backyard Bird Count needs you to help tally the nation's bird population. The 11th annual event begins Feb. 15 and runs through Feb. 18, during which citizen volunteers can participate by observing their backyard, park or any other wildlife area for 15 minutes and recording the number of each species they see. Participants can enter results online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc.

Last year, volunteers submitted 81,003 lists, counted 11,082,387 birds and spotted 613 species. The event also includes a photo contest for images of birds submitted by volunteers. At right is the 2007 overall winner, a photo of a hooded merganser by James Hendrickson of New Jersey.

For instructions on how to record and submit observations, birdwatching tips and other information, go here.