January 15-31

Backyard Bird Count

The annual bird count is a long-term monitoring project that tracks changes in bird populations in settlements. The count has been conducted in Israel since 2006, in collaboration with the Center for Nurturing Backyard Wildlife, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, Meeting Place, and the Israeli Center for Citizen Science at the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University. This is a citizen science project in which you – volunteers from all over the country – participate by conducting observations, counting, reporting, and providing information on changes and trends in bird populations near human habitations.

The count will begin in

The Count is in Full Swing!

Remaining for the Count

Count duration

10

minutes

  • Outside
  • Easy
  • Child friendly
  • Everywhere
  • Winter
  • Active
How to count birds?

Preparation and placement

Make sure the eBird app is installed on your cell phone and that you know how to use it. Choose a comfortable spot with good visibility, quiet, and shade. Stand with your back to the sun so you can observe the area you’ve chosen. About 5 minutes before the observation, sit in place and let the birds get used to your presence.

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Execution 

Observe for exactly 10 minutes , without moving from your spot. The observation will include all the birds you have identified within a radius of up to 100 meters around you.
Preferred counting hours: 07:00-10:00 in the morning, when birds are active in searching for food and can be observed more easily (counting can also be done at other times during the day).

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Report

Report on eBird (in the app or on the website) all the species you identified during the 10 minutes, and the number of birds you saw of each species. If you saw a flock of birds – record the maximum number of birds you saw simultaneously.

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    Whether you’re on the scientific side or the citizen side, we can’t do it without you!

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    Questions and Answers

    Why Count Birds?

    • Scientific Aspect:
      • Creating a multi-year database including the composition and number of wild bird species near homes.
      • Characterizing trends and changes in bird frequency and distribution over the years.
    • Public Aspect:
      • Increasing public involvement in nature conservation through citizen science.
      • Creating dialogue between academia and community.
    • Educational Aspect:
      • Increasing awareness and interest in birds around us, deepening familiarity and knowledge.
      • Education for active citizenship.

    Where to Count Birds?

    • Generally, anywhere in the settlement.
    • In the backyard and garden
    • In a public park / garden
    • In the kindergarten / school yard
    • At the playground and more…
    • Any place with a wide field of view – observation range radius of up to 100 meters, height – up to the tops of the tallest trees.
    • Repeated observations – It’s recommended to perform more than one count, each observation from a different location. A separate report should be filled for each area counted.

    What is Citizen Science and Why is it Important?

    Citizen science is a partnership between scientists and volunteer citizens in conducting scientific research.

    • Benefit for scientists: Assistance in expanding the database – a larger number of reports from a wider area.
    • Benefit for volunteers: Interest, knowledge, social interaction, meaningful action, involvement in nature conservation, ability to make an impact.
    • Benefit for society: Better understanding of science and science-based decision making.

    Bird Count in the Media

    Sites with Additional Information

    The Great Bird Count (Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel)

    Bird Count for Children and Youth (Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel)

    Center for Cultivating Wild Birds in the Yard and Garden

    The Great Bird Count (Steinhardt Museum of Natural History)

    More About the Project

    More Content on the Site
    • It’s important to avoid double counting. If birds are moving in the area in large numbers, report the maximum number of birds you saw simultaneously.
    • At the end of the count, fill in the details on the submission screen in the app, and make sure you’ve entered the number of participants in the count.

    Key Points

    • Count duration is 10 minutes at one point (without moving, stationary count).
    • Counting range within a radius of 100 meters from the point.
    • Additional counts (preferably at different points) should be reported separately.
    • Report on eBird during the count all species you identified by sight or sound and the number of individuals of each species. Do not report unidentified birds.

    Conducting the Count

    • Install the eBird app, create a user account, and install the Israel package (link#: guidance materials for using the app).
    • It’s recommended to stay at the observation point for about five minutes before starting the count to allow the birds to get used to your presence.

    Preparation for the Count

    When? At least on one of the days between January 15-31, preferably between 7:00-10:00.

    Where? Anywhere within a settlement, with a wide field of view.