Great Backyard Bird Count: How Beginners Can Participate

The Great Backyard Bird Count sounds larger and more technical than it really is.

You do not need to be an expert birder. You do not need a huge species list. You do not need a private backyard.

You need a place with birds, at least 15 minutes, and a way to report what you can identify.

That can mean ten species in a city park—or one House Sparrow outside an apartment window.

When Is the 2027 Great Backyard Bird Count?

The 30th annual Great Backyard Bird Count runs from Friday, February 12 through Monday, February 15, 2027.

The event is coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, with participants contributing observations from around the world.

You can count once or many times during the four-day period.

What Is the Great Backyard Bird Count?

GBBC is an annual global community-science event built around a simple idea:

People watch birds during the same four-day window and report what they observe.

Those observations create a broad snapshot of bird distribution and abundance at one point in the annual cycle.

The event is also deliberately designed to be accessible to beginners. The official GBBC guidance recommends Merlin Bird ID for people who are new to bird identification and eBird for participants who want to submit full bird lists and counts.

Do You Actually Need a Backyard?

No.

The name is historical, not a location rule.

You can count birds:

• in your yard;
• from a balcony;
• through an apartment window;
• at a local park;
• on a walk;
• at a wildlife refuge;
• at a school;
• at a workplace;
• anywhere else you can safely observe birds.

The official program allows participation anywhere in the world.

The Beginner Version: Five Steps

1. Choose one location. Your yard, balcony, park or another easy place.
2. Watch for at least 15 minutes.
3. Identify the birds you can confidently identify.
4. Estimate how many of each species you saw or heard.
5. Submit the observations through Merlin or eBird.

That is enough to take part.

You Can Participate With Merlin Bird ID

The official GBBC site recommends Merlin Bird ID as the easiest starting point for new birders using a smartphone.

Merlin can help through:

• Step-by-Step ID;
• Sound ID;
• Photo ID;
• Explore Birds;
• saved bird identifications.

If you already use Merlin, bird IDs you save during the four GBBC days can count toward the event.

For a deeper field workflow, see OwlRatings’ guide to using Merlin Bird ID effectively.

Merlin Suggestions Are Still Suggestions

Merlin is powerful, but do not report a bird solely because an app briefly suggested it.

Try to confirm the identification with:

• shape;
• size;
• plumage pattern;
• behavior;
• habitat;
• location;
• season;
• multiple sound detections when using Sound ID.

If you are uncertain, it is better to leave one species unidentified than to force a confident-looking but unsupported record.

You Can Participate With eBird Mobile

If you already keep bird lists—or want to begin—eBird Mobile is the most natural GBBC route.

Start a checklist, record your location and effort, add the species and counts you observe, then submit the list.

If you already submit normal eBird checklists, you do not need to create a special “GBBC checklist” during the event. Qualifying observations submitted during the four event days count toward GBBC.

OwlRatings’ eBird beginner guide explains location, protocol, effort, counts and complete-checklist rules in more detail.

You Can Also Use eBird on a Computer

A smartphone is not required.

You can count birds with a notebook or printed checklist, then enter your observations on eBird.org from a desktop or laptop.

This is useful if:

• you do not own a smartphone;
• you prefer paper in the field;
• you want to review identifications before submission;
• you are counting from home.

Do You Need to Register Separately for GBBC?

No separate GBBC sign-up is required if you are submitting through Merlin or eBird.

You will need the normal account used by those Cornell Lab tools.

If you already have a Cornell Lab account from Merlin, eBird, Project FeederWatch, NestWatch or another connected Cornell program, use the same login rather than creating duplicate accounts.

How Long Do You Need to Count?

The official minimum is 15 minutes.

You can count longer if you want.

For a first attempt, 15–30 minutes is often ideal:

• long enough for birds to appear;
• short enough to stay focused;
• easy to repeat later;
• simple to count from one fixed spot.

Do not inflate the duration because you think a longer checklist is more valuable. Accurate effort information matters.

Can You Count More Than Once?

Yes.

You can submit multiple counts across the four event days.

The official counting instructions call for separate checklists when you:

• count on a new day;
• count at a different location;
• return to the same location for another distinct counting session.

This keeps the location and effort attached to each observation period clear.

How Do You Count Birds Without Counting the Same Bird Ten Times?

This is one of the best beginner questions.

At a feeder, the GBBC FAQ recommends reporting the highest number of individuals of a species that you can confirm at one time, plus any clearly different individuals you know were present.

For example:

• You see one chickadee return ten times, never more than one at once → count 1.
• You see four goldfinches together → you know at least 4 were present.
• You see a male cardinal, then later a female cardinal → you can count 2 because they are clearly different individuals.

The goal is a defensible estimate, not a perfect census of individually marked birds.

For Large Flocks, Give Your Best Estimate

You are not expected to count 437 birds one by one while a flock is swirling overhead.

The official GBBC guidance explicitly accepts a best estimate.

A practical method is to count a small block—perhaps 10 or 20 birds—then estimate how many similar blocks are present.

Round honestly rather than pretending false precision.

Seen and Heard Both Count

You can report birds you identify by sound as well as birds you see.

This is especially useful for:

• woodpeckers drumming out of view;
• owls;
• winter sparrows in dense cover;
• birds calling from treetops;
• species you know confidently by voice.

If you are new to sound identification, use caution with one brief call.

See OwlRatings’ bird identification by sound guide.

What Does “Complete Checklist” Mean in eBird?

A complete checklist does not mean you identified every bird in the universe around you.

It means you reported every species you were able to identify during a birding session where birding was your primary purpose.

If a distant bird remained unidentified, you do not need to guess just to make the checklist “complete.”

The important part is that you are not intentionally leaving known species off the list.

Do You Have to Count Every Individual Perfectly?

No.

Accurate counts are useful, but estimates are acceptable when exact counting is impossible.

Try to distinguish between:

• “I saw 3 cardinals”;
• “I saw roughly 40 starlings”;
• “I have no idea, so I will enter an invented exact number.”

The first two can be useful observations. The third creates false precision.

What if You Cannot Identify a Bird?

Do not guess.

Instead, write down or photograph what you can:

• size;
• shape;
• bill;
• color pattern;
• behavior;
• habitat;
• sound;
• time and location.

Then use a field guide or Merlin to narrow it down.

OwlRatings’ bird identification guide gives a structured approach.

Do Not Report a Rare Bird Just Because an App Suggested It

Unusual records deserve more evidence, not less.

If Merlin suggests a species that would be very rare for your location or season:

• listen again;
• look for the bird;
• compare similar species;
• take photos or recordings if possible without disturbing the bird;
• add useful notes to an eBird checklist.

Automated identification is a tool, not proof.

A Backyard Feeder Is an Easy First Count Location

If you already have a feeder, it creates a predictable viewing area.

Sit where you can see:

• the feeder;
• the ground below it;
• nearby shrubs;
• trees birds use while waiting;
• the sky for flyovers.

Do not report only the birds physically touching the feeder. Your count location includes birds you detect throughout the area you are observing.

A Window Count Can Be Excellent

You do not need to go outside in February weather.

A stationary count through a window is perfectly useful if you can identify birds accurately.

This can be particularly accessible for:

• children;
• people with limited mobility;
• new birders;
• people in cold climates;
• anyone who wants a simple first checklist.

If the glass itself is hazardous to birds, participation is also a good reminder to make it bird-visible. See OwlRatings’ window-collision prevention guide.

A Balcony Counts

Apartment birders can participate without a yard.

Watch:

• street trees;
• rooftops;
• courtyards;
• park trees;
• birds flying overhead;
• any safe feeder or water feature allowed by building rules.

See OwlRatings’ bird-friendly balcony guide.

A Local Park Can Produce a Better Species List

If your home location has very few birds, visit a nearby park, wetland or refuge.

GBBC participation is not scored by convenience or rarity.

A park checklist is just as valid as a backyard checklist as long as you report the location and effort accurately.

Stationary vs Traveling Counts

eBird distinguishes between staying in one place and moving through an area.

A feeder or window count is usually stationary.

A birding walk through a park is usually traveling.

Report the protocol honestly because distance and duration help researchers interpret the checklist.

You Do Not Need Binoculars

Binoculars make many birds easier to identify, but they are not a participation requirement.

You can count:

• large familiar birds with the naked eye;
• feeder birds at close range;
• birds identified confidently by sound;
• birds photographed with a phone for later review.

If you do use binoculars, a normal general-purpose pair is enough. GBBC does not require specialized optics.

You Do Not Need to Photograph Every Bird

Photos can support unusual records and help with later identification, but photography is optional.

Do not spend the entire 15-minute count trying to photograph one common bird while ignoring the rest of the species around you.

If You Take Photos, Keep Birding Ethics First

Do not approach nests, use excessive playback or chase a bird for a closer photo merely because you want documentation.

See OwlRatings’ birding ethics guide.

How to Prepare the Day Before

• Choose your location.
• Install or update Merlin or eBird if you plan to use them.
• Download the correct Merlin bird pack over Wi-Fi.
• Charge your phone.
• Clean binocular lenses if needed.
• Check the weather.
• Learn 5–10 common local birds rather than trying to learn 100 overnight.

A little preparation makes the count feel much easier.

You Can Download a Local Bird Checklist

The official GBBC site provides instructions for using eBird to create or print a checklist of birds found in your area.

This can be useful if you prefer tally marks on paper or want a short list of likely species before you begin.

A local checklist also reduces the temptation to compare every bird with species that do not occur in your region in February.

A 15-Minute Beginner Count

Count the Whole Location, Not Just the “Interesting” Birds

Community-science data become more useful when common species are reported too.

Do not omit:

• House Sparrows because they are common;
• crows because you see them every day;
• pigeons because they feel “too urban”;
• chickadees because you already know they live there.

A complete picture includes ordinary birds.

Common Birds Are Often the Most Informative

Changes in common species can be biologically important precisely because there are enough observations to detect large-scale patterns.

Do not judge your checklist by how rare the birds are.

One careful list of common birds is better than a list inflated by uncertain rarities.

What if You See Only One Species?

Submit it.

The official GBBC site explicitly welcomes participation whether you see one bird or hundreds.

Low-diversity observations are still observations.

What if You See No Birds?

A zero-bird count can still tell you something about effort at a location, but the submission options and usefulness depend on the platform and protocol you are using.

For a beginner, the simplest approach is to stay the full observation period, listen as well as look, and follow current eBird or GBBC entry guidance rather than inventing sightings to avoid an empty list.

Can You Count With Friends or Family?

Yes.

Group counting can be an easy way to involve children or people who are new to birds.

Agree before you start on:

• the observation area;
• who is keeping the master list;
• who will submit the checklist;
• how you will avoid each person separately counting the same flock.

The official GBBC site provides dedicated group-count instructions for organized events.

Children Can Participate

A 15-minute count works well with children because it has a clear start and finish.

Give simple jobs:

• one person watches the feeder;
• one watches the ground;
• one listens;
• one keeps tally marks;
• one checks IDs.

Do not turn the count into a test where every mistake feels like failure. The goal is careful observation.

Can You Participate More Than One Day?

Yes, and repeated counts can be interesting because the bird community changes with weather and time of day.

You might try:

• Friday afternoon;
• Saturday morning;
• Sunday at a park;
• Monday back at home.

Each distinct session becomes its own checklist.

Try the Same Spot at Two Times of Day

A morning count and an afternoon count at the same location can look very different.

Bird activity shifts with:

• temperature;
• wind;
• feeding cycles;
• predator activity;
• human disturbance;
• weather.

Submit them as separate sessions rather than combining the entire day into one invented continuous count.

Weather Does Not Cancel GBBC

February weather can be messy.

You can still count from a sheltered window if conditions are unpleasant.

Do not risk unsafe driving, ice, lightning, flooding or severe cold just to increase your species total.

A safe 15-minute home count is enough.

Different Weather Produces Different Lists

That is not a flaw.

Wind, snow, rain and temperature influence where birds forage and how visible they are.

The effort information attached to an eBird checklist helps place your observations in context.

Should You Fill the Feeders Before the Count?

If you normally feed birds, keep your normal routine.

Do not radically alter the site just to manufacture a larger count.

Clean, fresh food and normal feeder management are more important than adding unusual amounts for one weekend.

See OwlRatings’ winter bird feeding guide.

Keep Feeder Hygiene Normal During GBBC

The event does not override feeder-health practices.

If food is wet or moldy, remove it.

If local wildlife authorities issue a disease-related advisory, follow that current guidance rather than keeping feeders active because you want more birds for the count.

Use Field Notes for Difficult Birds

If you encounter a bird you cannot identify immediately, notes can preserve details that disappear once the bird flies away.

Write down:

• size;
• shape;
• bill;
• plumage;
• behavior;
• sound;
• habitat;
• what similar species you considered.

See OwlRatings’ field-notes guide.

Photos and Sounds Can Support eBird Records

eBird allows supporting media to be added through the Macaulay Library workflow.

For common birds, media are optional.

For unusual species, a useful photo, sound recording and written notes can strengthen the record.

Never disturb a bird merely to obtain documentation.

What Does GBBC Data Actually Help With?

A single checklist does not independently prove a population increase or decline.

The value comes from combining many observations across places and years.

Researchers can use large community-science datasets to study patterns in:

• distribution;
• seasonal occurrence;
• range changes;
• relative abundance;
• responses to weather and habitat;
• long-term change when appropriate methods are used.

GBBC is therefore best understood as one large, coordinated observation event feeding into broader bird-monitoring systems.

Do Not Treat One GBBC Year as a Population Census

The number of birds submitted during one event depends on both birds and people.

Weather, observer effort, identification skill, participation levels and location coverage all influence raw totals.

Researchers account for effort and other biases when using community-science data scientifically.

Why Accurate Effort Is So Important

“12 chickadees in 15 minutes at one feeder” means something different from “12 chickadees during a six-hour walk across 10 miles.”

Duration, distance, protocol, location and party size help make bird counts interpretable.

This is why eBird asks for more than species names.

What Should a Beginner Focus On?

Common Beginner Mistakes

A Simple First-GBBC Plan

If you have never submitted bird data before, use this low-pressure plan.

1. Before February 12, install Merlin Bird ID.
2. Download your regional bird pack.
3. Choose one easy observation spot.
4. On one GBBC day, watch for 15 minutes.
5. Save the birds you can identify confidently.
6. If you enjoy it, repeat later or try eBird for a full checklist.

You can build complexity later.

A More Advanced Four-Day Plan

You do not need to follow this plan. It simply shows how the four-day event can become a miniature introduction to real bird survey thinking.

Can Experienced Birders Participate Normally?

Yes.

If you already use eBird, keep birding and submitting normal complete checklists during the event.

The GBBC structure does not require you to switch to a special beginner workflow.

Does Merlin Replace eBird?

They overlap but serve different beginner needs.

A beginner can start with Merlin and move toward eBird as confidence grows.

You Can Practice Before February

Do one 15-minute practice count before GBBC.

It will reveal your real questions:

• Can I identify my common feeder birds?
• Do I understand how to start and stop an eBird checklist?
• Can I estimate numbers without double counting?
• Does Merlin have the right bird pack downloaded?
• Can I hear birds I cannot see?

Practice makes the actual event feel like birdwatching instead of software troubleshooting.

GBBC Is Also a Good Reason to Learn Your Common Birds

Before the event, learn the birds you are most likely to encounter rather than memorizing rare species.

Start with:

• common feeder birds;
• common crows and pigeons;
• local woodpeckers;
• common sparrows;
• winter finches;
• common waterbirds if you plan to visit a pond.

Confidence with common birds makes unusual birds easier to notice.

How to Make Your Checklist More Useful

• Use the correct location.
• Record the real start time and duration.
• Use stationary or traveling protocol accurately.
• Enter realistic counts.
• Submit every species you can identify.
• Add notes for unusual observations.
• Add photos or sounds when they materially support an unusual record.
• Do not intentionally omit common species.

What Not to Worry About

• Having a “small” list.
• Not seeing a rare bird.
• Using a backyard instead of a famous hotspot.
• Not owning expensive binoculars.
• Being new to eBird.
• Only having 15 minutes.

The event is built to accept all of those realities.

What Matters Most

Three things make a beginner checklist valuable:

• honest identification;
• honest counts;
• honest effort.

You do not need expert-level performance.

GBBC vs Project FeederWatch

These are related but different community-science programs.

GBBC is a four-day global February event that can happen anywhere birds are found.

Project FeederWatch follows a longer seasonal monitoring protocol focused on birds at feeding areas and count sites.

The next OwlRatings roadmap article covers Project FeederWatch for beginners in detail.

GBBC vs Christmas Bird Count

The Christmas Bird Count is another major community-science tradition, but it uses organized count circles and a different protocol.

GBBC is easier to start independently because you can simply choose your own location and count for 15 minutes.

Your 2027 GBBC Checklist

Bottom Line

The Great Backyard Bird Count is one of the easiest ways for a beginner to turn ordinary birdwatching into useful community-science data.

For 2027, participate anytime from February 12 through February 15. Choose a location anywhere in the world, watch for at least 15 minutes, identify what you can, estimate numbers honestly and submit the observations.

If you are completely new, start with Merlin Bird ID and one short count. If you already use eBird, continue submitting normal checklists during the four-day event.

Do not worry about finding rare birds or creating a huge list. Common birds, short counts and ordinary backyards all contribute to the event.

The useful beginner standard is simple: report what you actually observed, report how long and where you looked, and avoid pretending to know more than you do.

Sources & Further Reading

• Great Backyard Bird Count — Official Site and 2027 Dates
• Great Backyard Bird Count — How to Participate
• Great Backyard Bird Count — Counting Instructions
• Great Backyard Bird Count — Frequently Asked Questions
• Great Backyard Bird Count — Using Merlin Bird ID
• Great Backyard Bird Count — Using eBird Mobile
• National Audubon Society — About the Great Backyard Bird Count

Editorial note: Event dates, app workflows and submission details can change from year to year. This guide was checked against the official GBBC information available for the February 12–15, 2027 event. Recheck the official site shortly before participating for any updated instructions.

Jonathan Gron

Jonathan Gron is the founder and editor of OwlRatings, where he researches birding, backyard wildlife and practical bird-safety guidance using current primary, government and professional sources.