Extend the Season of Love to Birds

NEW YORK, NY—Love is in the air—listen closely and the sounds of chickadees, sparrows, and thrushes are beckoning you to step outside to experience the love from birds and nature. Take a moment to celebrate what birds and nature give us during the annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) from February 13 through February 16, 2026. 

Spending time immersed in nature and watching birds can reduce stress and bring a smile to everyone’s face. Check out this happy group of participants from 2025. 

Join in the fun this February and spend at least 15 minutes watching birds and sharing what you see with the world at birdcount.org. 

You're also invited to tune in to a special webinar about how to participate in the GBBC. Register for one of two free events happening on Friday, February 5, at 3 p.m. Eastern (12 p.m. Pacific) or Wednesday, February 11, 7 p.m. Eastern (4 p.m Pacific). Register here.

Guadalupe Angel Vallejo Tapia, a GBBC participant from Mexico says, “What I like most about birdwatching is the direct connection with nature. Each species has its own behavior, and it’s fascinating to be able to identify its patterns and learn about its behavior. In addition, birdwatching allows me to appreciate the biodiversity of our region and the positive impact that the conservation of these ecosystems has. It is an activity that, in addition to being educational, invites us to reflect on the importance of protecting our natural spaces.” 

The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is taking place February 13 through 16, 2026.

Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world's bird species as possible over four days in February. Combined with other bird counts, GBBC results help create a clearer picture of how birds are faring—whether individual species are declining, increasing, or holding steady in the face of habitat loss, climate change, and other threats.

“The GBBC is a great opportunity for everyone to take a moment to appreciate what birds and nature can do for us,” says David Bonter, co-director of the Center for Engagement in Science and Nature at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “Watching birds with friends and family is also a great way to build community and show your support for the natural world.”

More than 800,000 people participated during the 2025 GBBC. Birders found 8,078 species of the world’s known species, 158 more than in 2024. GBBC continues to reach people around the world—birders counted birds in nearly every country. 

"By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count we can appreciate the beauty and serenity that birds bring us every day. In return, the bird observations we submit can be used to inform conservation efforts that secure a brighter future for birds and people alike," said Ben Haywood, Audubon's director of community science. "The more the merrier as we celebrate the joy of birds all over the world and join the global effort to protect them and the places they need."

“The Great Backyard Bird Count invites people to slow down and truly get to know the birds that share their lives,” says Jody Allair, director of Communications at Birds Canada. “The simple act of observing, learning, and sharing can spark joy, connect us with a growing community around the world, and inspire a lifelong commitment to protecting the places birds depend on.”

To take part in the 2026 GBBC, each participant or group counts birds for 15 minutes or more and uses the birdcount.org website or eBird app to enter the birds they can identify at each site they visit. That could be their backyard, but it could also be a park, a wilderness area, apartment balcony, neighborhood street, or anywhere.

Anyone can participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count. First-timers should make it a point to read the instructions on the GBBC website, where they will also find helpful birding tips and birding app downloads. The GBBC website also features a map of local events to help you find your flock: birdcount.org/community-map

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada and is made possible in part by founding sponsor Wild Birds Unlimited.

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Editors: Download images to use with GBBC stories. The use of this material is protected by copyright. Use is permitted only within stories about the content of this release. Redistribution or any other use is prohibited without express written permission of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the copyright owner. 

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Media Contacts:

• Nicolas Gonzalez, National Audubon Society, (212) 979-3068, nicolas.gonzalez@audubon.org

• Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, birdnews@cornell.edu 

• Olivia Carvalho, Birds Canada, 1-888-448-2473 ext. 307 ocarvalho@birdscanada.org

About Audubon  

The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @audubonsociety.