The Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up

Cardinal [Photo by Michael Warren]

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Posted February 11, 2025 | By Barbara Schwartz, Special to the Gazette

Beginning Friday, Feb. 14 and running through Monday, Feb. 17, people have an opportunity to help scientists with information about birds seen locally by participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Ornithologists track the population and locations of birds globally. With the help of people worldwide, they will get information for their research projects that would not be possible otherwise.

Here’s the plan: Spend 15 minutes or more, if possible, bird watching on any or all the listed dates. Submit the information using cellphone apps Merlin or eBird. Complete instructions for both apps are on the Marion Audubon Society YouTube channel.

You also can download free tools from this Cornell University lab of Ornithology site: [email protected]. A printable checklist of birds in our region is available.

Where to watch the birds? Your yard, porch or patio. County parks. City parks. Walking trails. State parks. Ocala/Marion County is full of amazing parks and trails.

If you’d like to learn more about birding, please join members of the Marion Audubon Society for field trips and educational presentations on Zoom. All events are on Meetup and on our website at marionaudubon.org