This weekend is the annual Great Back Yard Bird Count sponsored by Cornell University and the Audubon Society.
When : Feb 13-17
Where: Birds are everywhere on all continents. This is not limited to just the US. People participate from all over the world.
It's fun, you don't have to be an expert and can take as little as 15 minutes.
Bird populations are constantly changing. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to keep track of the complicated patterns of movement of species around the world. The information from GBBC participants, combined with other surveys, helps scientists learn how birds are affected by environmental changes.
Some people sit indoors and count their feeders through a window. Others take the title literally, go outside, look around and count what they see and make their report. I'll be out counting at least 5 hot spot locations complete with binoculars and scope and others even organize or take part in birding field trips but the idea is to keep it simple, and encourage very broad participation. Although they may be helpful you don't have to have birding books, binoculars or any other equipment. Most people know the common birds in their area and the report allows you to account for "others unknown". There is no age limit so it's something you can do with or get your kids to do especially if they are snowed in and bored. The birds are still out there no matter what the weather.
The GBBC is normally a three day, one weekend February event but this year it's been extended until through Monday to take advantage of the holiday. Because of the weather in the East participation is sure to be down this year. So please help out. Just reading the site is fun and filing your report or reports, you can file as many as you like, could not be easier.
So forget about politics for awhile. That stuff will still be here after you get back. Please get involved in a for real science project. Take a few minutes and do it for the birds if not the bees. If you are not already a bird enthusiast you might just become one. It's the number on hobby in the US. Here's a link to the National Audubon Society to further whet your appetite.