{"id":1586,"date":"2025-01-31T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/?p=1586"},"modified":"2025-11-17T08:35:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T13:35:52","slug":"get-ready-for-the-2025-great-backyard-bird-count","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/site.extension.uga.edu\/forsyth\/get-ready-for-the-2025-great-backyard-bird-count\/","title":{"rendered":"Get ready for the 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Long-billed, short-tailed, and very active, it\u2019s common to see nuthatches moving along the trunks of trees. Photo by Patrice Bouchard on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heather N. Kolich, ANR Agent, UGA Extension Forsyth County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To all our nature lovers, I\u2019m issuing a challenge: Help us double Forsyth County\u2019s participation in the Great Backyard Bird Count this February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why count birds?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Birds are fun to watch and make a nice addition of color, sound, and motions to our yards, but what\u2019s the point of counting them? Monitoring birds can tell scientists a lot. Comparisons of bird counts year after year can indicate changes in migratory patterns, overwintering sites, and the ranges and populations of different bird species. These changes could be alerts to environmental issues or indicators of environmental improvements due to land management changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Purple Finches use their sturdy beaks to crack open seeds. If you don\u2019t have a feeder, look and listen for them at the tops of tall trees. Photo by Camerauthor Photos on Unsplash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Birds are participants in ecosystem health as well as indicators of it. They provide environmental services such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n