Great Backyard Bird Count 2024
This Event is over.
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Date(s): February 16, 17, 18 and 19, 2024
Time(s): Various Nature Preserve Hours - see post below
Location: Cache Creek Nature Preserve (see map)
Sponsored by: Cache Creek Conservancy, The Cornell Lab, Audubon and Birds Canada
Cost: Free
This event is over!
The Monday Guided Bird Tour is cancelled and the Nature Preserve is closed due to weather.
We’ll do this again next year!
A Global Event
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an international 4-day event celebrating the world of birds. Spend quality time at Cache Creek Nature Preserve watching birds, and report your findings to help scientists understand and protect birds around the globe. It takes as little as 15 minutes a day (or longer, if you wish!) on one or more days of the event to observe the birds in your community or here at the Nature Preserve.
How do you do the bird Count?
- Get to know one of the identification/recording tools below so you’ll be prepared.
- Come to the Nature Preserve.
- Watch and/or listen for birds for 15 minutes.
- Use one of the tools below to Identify all the birds you see or hear and to record your bird sightings.
The Preserve will be open at various hours during all 4 days of the Great Backyard Bird Count.
Dates: February 16th-19th, 2024.
Hours:
- Feb 16 (Friday) 8am-4pm
- Feb 17 (Saturday) 8am-12pm
- Feb 18 (Sunday) 8am-4pm
- Feb 19 (Monday) 8am-12pm (Presidents’ Day) CLOSED due to weather!
Tools for Recording Bird Sightings
There are three ways to share the birds you see or hear. Use these links to get setup ahead of time.
If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell Cornell Labs / Audubon what birds you are seeing or hearing.
If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website (desktop/laptop).
If you already contribute to Merlin or eBird, continue what you are doing! All entries over the 4-days count towards GBBC.
Yolo County Bird Guides
- Yolo County Printable Bird Lists from ebird.org (Printable)
- Bird ID Booklet from Cache Creek Conservancy (PDF)
Guided Bird Counts
The Nature Preserve’s Staff Biologist, Felicia Wang, will be providing 2-hour guided group bird walks Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings.
- Feb 17 (Saturday) 9am–11am
- Feb 18 (Sunday) 9am–11am
- Feb 19 (Monday) 9am–11am CANCELLED due to weather
Meet in front of the Nature Preserve Map by 8:45 AM.
What to bring:
- Binoculars. We have a limited supply if you need to borrow a pair.
- Bird field guides are useful to reference, if you have one. Download PDFs (above) or we will have some printed when you arrive.
- Dress for the weather and for rough terrain, e.g., closed-toe shoes, long pants.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, bug repellent and/or sun screen as needed.
- Bring water to drink over the 2-hour walk.
Participant Waiver Form
You will need to sign a waiver of liability form for this event. You can download it HERE to review if you wish. Print, sign and bring with you or Felicia will have some when you arrive.
RSVP
Let us know you’re coming so we can be better prepared. Limit 20 people per tour.
You should see a form in the green box below. If you don’t please feel free to Contact Us directly.
This event is over! We’ll do this again next year. Sign up for our Newsletter to stay up to date!
In the News
‘Great Backyard Bird Count’ returns to Cache Creek Nature Preserve
Daily Democrat, February 10, 2024 by Jim Smith