Loading Events

GREAT BACKYARD
Bird Count

Community Science events like the Great Backyard Bird Count are important sources of information as we look at global warming and its effect on nature. The next Great Backyard Bird Count is February 16-19, 2024, and takes place all across America in thousands of communities. Bird watchers of all ages count birds to create a real-time snapshot of where birds are. Here at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, we’ll be counting birds (and you can help too!) on Feb 17th from 9 a.m. to noon.  All are welcome to participate in this exciting community event!

Grab your binoculars, drop by the Lora Robins Library for a checklist, and meet some organizations that promote birding. Be a part of this community science project; children can assist, too, and are welcome to help with a parent.

yellow bird on branch eats seed

Goldfinch at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. Photo by Tom Hennessy

 

Date:
Saturday, February 17, 2024
Time:
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
  • This event has passed.
Event Details

Community science bird counting event is included with Garden Admission

Visit the Lora M. Robins Library where we will have activities and information available from our partnering organizations, including the Richmond Audubon Society, and the Riverine Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalists.

Join Buz and Barb Sawyer, experienced birdwatchers since childhood, as they lead tours to help locate and identify birds in the Garden. They’ll share tips and visit areas in the Garden with available winter food sources for birds such as holly berries, wax myrtle, juniper, hawthorns, staghorn sumac, etc. We’ll count and record our sightings as a group. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them (not required).  Children 8 and up are welcome to attend when accompanied by an adult.  No pre-registration is required.  Tours are first come, first serve and limited to 15 participants. Tours leave from the Atrium of the Robins Visitors Center at 9:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Also, join local author Judy Jamison for the launch and signing of her new book – Brave Bird. She will be hosting our story time that morning at 10 and 10:30 a.m. There will be fun activities for all ages!

Rockfish Wildlife Sanctuary will participate in the event, educating guests on all the things we can do to protect and rescue wildlife in Virginia.

The Great Backyard Bird Count was launched in 1998 by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. This global community science project helps the general public and scientists learn more about the year-to-year bird populations and distributions.

Community Science Fun Facts

Citizen Scientist student takes notes in a garden.

Lilah Monroe, observes butterflies for a community scientist project.

  • Last year there were 300,000+ participants from all over the world!
  • Data was collected from 6,436 species of birds