UZ COUNTS ON COMMUNITY
Great Backyard Bird Count Returns
The 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count takes place from February 13th through February 16th, 2026. And this year, community members can count and submit their tallies while surrounded by different wildlife on Utica Zoo grounds! Spending time immersed in nature and watching birds can reduce stress and bring a smile to everyone’s face, not to mention benefit conservation efforts!
Bird and nature lovers everywhere unite in the effort to tally as many of the world’s bird species as possible over these four days. 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.
Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count on Utica Zoo grounds is free with regular paid admission, but registration is still recommended, which can be done at https://pos.uticazoo.org/uticazoo/checkout/default/addtocart/add/1741
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 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 Merlin Bird ID app 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 even at the Utica Zoo!
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.
PLATINUM INVESTORS
