(by Grace McCulloch)
Count your Backyard Winter Birds: February 14 & 15 (Valentine’s Weekend)
Whether this is your first year or your tenth, there is always something new to discover on the Backyard Winter Bird Survey. We have a brand-new project website with annual reports, photo galleries, and easy ways to explore our long-term dataset. You can view profiles for 20 common species to learn about population trends over the past 30 years, find tips on identification, discover look-alike species, and get advice on how to help wildlife in winter.
Taking part in the Backyard Winter Bird Survey is easy. Just count the birds in your backyard sometime over Valentine’s Weekend and submit your results using our online survey (or mail in the paper form). You can count for the whole weekend or for as little as 15 minutes. Any bird in your backyard counts—even if you’re watching from a window with a cup of coffee. For full instructions, visit our “How to Participate” page.
This is a fun activity for the whole family. If you are new to birding, we have simple online guides to help you get started. You can also submit photos through our new photo page for a chance to be featured in our 2026 photo gallery.
There is always something exciting to see, from your first Carolina Wren to a rare winter Baltimore Oriole (spotted by eight participants last year!). Last year, a record 1,953 people took part. With your help, we hope to beat that number again!
The Backyard Winter Bird Survey relies on donations to continue this work. If you would like to support the project, please visit this page. Donations are appreciated but not required to participate. Thank you to all those who have supported our work, including the Davis and Butler Foundations who supported the creation of the new project website.
So mark your calendar for February 14 and 15. I can’t wait to hear about the birds you see in your backyard! If you have any questions, please reach out to bwbs@nhaudubon.org.