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Scarlet TanagerGetting outside and connecting with nature is very important not only for our physical and mental health, but as an opportunity to explore and investigate our local nature-hood.
We traditionally support the winter Backyard Bird Count, and May Schoolyard Bird Count, and this year the Environmental Education portfolio is organizing a Spring Neighbourhood Bird Count. Counting birds can be done easily from a backyard, balcony or window.
We've designed a few resources to get you started!
Our Spring Neighbourhood Bird Count is three-day event designed to engage TVDSB students and adults of all ages. The end product will be a data set of which birds were in our area during this snap-shot period of time.
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!
We've modelled our data collection 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 and after seeing the great data collected from WRDSB!
Teachers and families can see some curriculum connections here.
THE SPRING NEIGHBOURHOOD BIRD COUNT
Who: Anyone in the TVDSB can participate. Even grown-ups!
What: Count what birds you see, how many (best guess), and where.
Where: In your neighbourhood: from your backyard, balcony, porch or window!
When: anytime is good to practice! Later in May we will run a 'blitz' over 3 days!
How: Submit your results electronically using this Google Form. See results live on our website at …. Share pictures via Twitter #TVDSBExploreAtHome
We've prepared a few resources and links below:
Read the instructions below for participants.
Check out our video for tips and tricks when watching birds in your neighbourhood
Check out our video for tips and tricks when watching birds in your neighbourhood
Submit your results using this Google Form
Submit your results using this Google Form
How to count
How to count
Thanks to WRDSB Outdoor Ed Department for sharing this idea with us and to Birds Studies Canada for sharing some of their resources! We are excited to create our own local data set for further investigation!
Count birds from your backyard, balcony, porch or window for AT LEAST 15 minutes, but you may count as long as you wish during the count period.
Make your best guess of what species you saw, how many individual birds you saw, and how long you watched. Use our resources above to help you identify!
Enter your observations online here. Feel free to use the paper form while you're outside and then type in your responses. Submit a new checklist for:
Each new day
Each new location
Same day, same location if counted at a different time of day.
4. You will submit your observations using a Google form. You may need to login to you GOTVDSB account.
5. The first question will be ‘Where did you count birds?’ Please pick the best description from the drop-down menu. Either London, St Thomas, Woodstock or the best county description.
6 .Please choose the date from the drop-down menu.
7. Please enter your observation time period. This will allow for future questions like: Are there more robins out in the morning?
8. On the form you will be given a drop-down list of the most common yard birds in the TVDSB. If you only observed them, but didn’t count how many individuals, put an x in the box. If you counted how many individuals of each species please enter the number observed into the box. If you observed a species that is not listed, please write it in as an ‘Other’, give the name and enter how many.
9. Please share questions or comments about your experience with us! Add in your questions, or write a short description of what you did in the comments section. Did you see something you weren’t expecting? Were you surprised by anything? What are you wondering now?
10. When you are done, click the ‘Submit’ button! You should see a confirmation page that will give you the option of changing your submission if you think you made an error.
11. Please share a photo of your birding experience (especially interesting bird pictures) by email or social media (#TVDSBExploreAtHome) or by uploading to the form.
12. If you observe birds again during the count period, submit another checklist!
Use scrap paper, or you can print this form (hyperlinked) to tally what you see
Other resources for backyard birding in Ontario:
http://ofo.ca/birdingathome/content/birding-at-home-overview
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