THE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT 2021

We know that many of our students want to do something fun this Earth Day. To help families get outside safely, the Waterloo Region District School Board’s Outdoor and Environmental Education Department is organizing our 2nd annual Backyard Bird Count. Counting birds can be done easily from a backyard, balcony or window. With a few simple resources, everyone can enjoy a bit of nature this Earth Day and do something to help Waterloo Region’s beautiful birds.

Last year WRDSB students observed over 34,000 birds!  Can we see more this year?

The Backyard Bird Count is a now a five-day event that engages students of all ages in the WRDSB. It creates a real-time snapshot of the birds that live here, showing us how many there are and where they live.

Anyone can participate, from beginners to experts. You can count for as little as 15 minutes on a single day, or for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun and easy – and it helps the birds!

The Backyard Bird Count is modelled after the “Great Backyard Bird Count,” an annual event run in February, jointly sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon and Canadian partner, Birds Canada.

THE BACKYARD BIRD COUNT

Who: Anyone in the WRDSB can participate.
What: Count what birds you see, how many (best guess), and where (Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or Township).
Where: From your backyard, balcony, porch or window!
When: 8AM on April 22 until 4PM on April 26.
How: Submit your results electronically using this google form.  See results live on our website here. Share pictures via Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. #WRDSBbirdwatch

All participants who submit observations will get a certificate of appreciation from our OEE Department.

To help prepare students for this fun activity, the Outdoor and Environmental Education Department has prepared a few resources for our students. Below are suggestions that will help make the count a success for all.

Watch the ‘how-to’ videos.
Read the instructions for participants.
Get to know the birds that live in Waterloo.
Practice.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

WRDSB Backyard Bird Count Bird List April 2020
Merlin Bird ID app
eBird
Audubon Bird ID app
Seek app
iNaturalist
Allaboutbirds

Here is an ID Chart if you would like a resource to help you with your observations.  You can find a printable version on our Print Resources page.

If you have any problems preparing for the count or difficulty submitting your observations, please use the form below to contact us directly.  You may also use this form to ask us other bird or nature related questions.