Some stats on last year’s Great Backyard Bird Count

See www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/science/experience-science-count-birds-from-your-backyard.html

“Last year more than 140,000 people from more than 100 countries classified nearly half of the world’s bird types during the four-day event. Included in the 5,090 different species identified in 2015 were two new bird species, the millpo tapaculo and Santa Marta screech-owl, which had never before been described in a scientific journal.”

“Interested bird-watchers can join this weekend’s count by using their smartphones or a paper and pen to jot down every bird they see in an area for at least 15 minutes. They can then upload their findings to the project’s website. Details such as color and behavior are useful to ornithological sleuths in determining which bird breeds are present. Data from the count contribute to other citizen science projects, such as eBird, and help scientists learn more about how avian populations cope with climate change and harsh weather conditions.

The event also includes a photo contest that features fancy plumage from across the globe.”