Great Backyard Bird Count set for Feb. 13-16

The annual Great Backyard Bird Count is scheduled from Feb. 13-16. The event asks people of all ages to spend 15 minutes counting as many different kinds of birds as they can see. Participants can enter their checklist and photos on the group's website then browse the site to see what other people were able to find. There is also a photo contest. (An osprey photo taken during last year's event)

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society launched the event in 1998. Last year 142,051 participants in 135 countries counted 4,296 species of birds—more than one-third of the world’s bird species—on 144,109 checklists. And the event isn't just for fun. It's a valuable tool for scientists and bird enthusiasts to study birds, their behavior and migration patterns. (Read more)