Extend the Season of Love to Birds

NEW YORK, NY—Love is within the air—pay attention carefully and the sounds of chickadees, sparrows, and thrushes are beckoning you to step outdoors to expertise the love from birds and nature. Take a second to have fun what birds and nature give us through the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) from February 13 by February 16, 2026. 

Spending time immersed in nature and watching birds can cut back stress and convey a smile to everybody’s face. Try this happy group of participants from 2025. 

Be part of within the enjoyable this February and spend no less than quarter-hour watching birds and sharing what you see with the world at birdcount.org. 

You are additionally invited to tune in to a particular webinar about how one can take part within the GBBC. Register for certainly one of two free occasions taking place on Friday, February 5, at 3 p.m. Jap (12 p.m. Pacific) or Wednesday, February 11, 7 p.m. Jap (4 p.m Pacific). Register here.

Guadalupe Angel Vallejo Tapia, a GBBC participant from Mexico says, “What I like most about birdwatching is the direct reference to nature. Every species has its personal conduct, and it’s fascinating to have the ability to establish its patterns and study its conduct. As well as, birdwatching permits me to understand the biodiversity of our area and the constructive affect that the conservation of those ecosystems has. It’s an exercise that, along with being academic, invitations us to mirror on the significance of defending our pure areas.” 

The twenty ninth annual Nice Yard Hen Depend is happening February 13 by 16, 2026.

Hen and nature lovers in every single place unite within the effort to tally as lots of the world’s hen species as attainable over 4 days in February. Mixed with different hen counts, GBBC outcomes assist create a clearer image of how birds are faring—whether or not particular person species are declining, growing, or holding regular within the face of habitat loss, local weather change, and different threats.

“The GBBC is a superb alternative for everybody to take a second to understand what birds and nature can do for us,” says David Bonter, co-director of the Heart for Engagement in Science and Nature on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Watching birds with family and friends can also be a good way to construct group and present your help for the pure world.”

Greater than 800,000 individuals participated through the 2025 GBBC. Birders discovered 8,078 species of the world’s recognized species, 158 greater than in 2024. GBBC continues to succeed in individuals all over the world—birders counted birds in practically each nation. 

“By collaborating within the Nice Yard Hen Depend we will recognize the wonder and serenity that birds convey us every single day. In return, the hen observations we submit can be utilized to tell conservation efforts that safe a brighter future for birds and folks alike,” mentioned Ben Haywood, Audubon’s director of group science. “The extra the merrier as we have fun the enjoyment of birds all around the world and be part of the worldwide effort to guard them and the locations they want.”

“The Nice Yard Hen Depend invitations individuals to decelerate and really get to know the birds that share their lives,” says Jody Allair, director of Communications at Birds Canada. “The easy act of observing, studying, and sharing can spark pleasure, join us with a rising group all over the world, and encourage a lifelong dedication to defending the locations birds depend upon.”

To participate within the 2026 GBBC, every participant or group counts birds for quarter-hour or extra and makes use of the birdcount.org web site or eBird app to enter the birds they will establish at every web site they go to. That might be their yard, however it is also a park, a wilderness space, residence balcony, neighborhood road, or wherever.

Anybody can take part within the Nice Yard Hen Depend. First-timers ought to make it a degree to learn the directions on the GBBC website, the place they will even discover useful birding ideas and birding app downloads. The GBBC web site additionally includes a map of native occasions that can assist you discover your flock: birdcount.org/community-map

The Nice Yard Hen Depend is a joint venture of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made attainable partially by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

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Editors: Download images to use with GBBC stories. Using this materials is protected by copyright. Use is permitted solely inside tales in regards to the content material of this launch. Redistribution or another use is prohibited with out specific written permission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the copyright proprietor. 

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Media Contacts:

• Nicolas Gonzalez, Nationwide Audubon Society, (212) 979-3068, nicolas.gonzalez@audubon.org

• Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, birdnews@cornell.edu 

• Olivia Carvalho, Birds Canada, 1-888-448-2473 ext. 307 ocarvalho@birdscanada.org

About Audubon  

The Nationwide Audubon Society is a number one nonprofit conservation group with 120 years of science-based, community-driven affect, devoted to defending birds and the locations they want, at present and tomorrow. Birds are highly effective indicators of our planet’s well being, performing as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and encourage motion. Audubon works throughout the Western Hemisphere, pushed by the understanding that what is nice for birds is nice for the planet. By a collaborative, bipartisan method throughout habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives significant and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 workers and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing power dedicated to making sure a greater planet for each birds and folks for generations to come back. Study extra at www.audubon.org and on Fb, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.