Greetings,

The tenth annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up February 16-19, and Georgia bird watchers have a chance to help make history.

The goal is to top the all-time participation record for the event. Last year, participants came within a few hundred of the record 61,049 checklists. All the data gathered and reported online at www.birdsource.org/gbbc help scientists learn the latest trends in bird population and distribution across North America.

This is how Georgia fared in the 2006 GBBC:

Number of species: 213

Number of checklists submitted: 2,507

Species reported on the most lists: Northern Cardinal

Species reported in the greatest numbers: Mourning Dove

Locality submitting the most lists: Atlanta

State record for checklist submitted: 2,973 (2002)

The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. To learn more about the event, contests, prizes, how your readers may participate, and more, visit our press room at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. Help Georgia set a new record for GBBC participation!

Best wishes,
Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society