This weekend birdwatchers of all ages are invited to step outside and help track feathered visitors during the 29th annual Great Backyard Bird Count.

“It’s not often we get to participate in a worldwide event that really matters,” said Susan Street, co-chair of the Birds, Bees, Butterflies and Backyard Habitat Committee for the Starkville Town and Country Garden Club. “People from all over the world will report their bird sightings in one database, and scientists will use this data to track long-term bird population trends, migration patterns and habitat loss.”

The event, a collaboration between the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, makes it simple for beginners and experienced birders alike to participate. Observers spend at least 15 minutes counting birds in their backyard, local park, schoolyard or other favorite outdoor spot and report their findings online using tools such as the Merlin Bird ID app or eBird.

“Anyone can do it – you don’t need special equipment or skills,” Street said. “We have resources to help identify the birds you see, and it’s a fun way to connect with nature.”

The Starkville Town and Country Garden Club has participated in the bird count for years, and this year, members will again guide the Garden of Goodness & Glory, a junior garden club, through a count at Brooksville Gardens in Starkville. The club is scheduled to meet Sunday at 3 p.m., weather permitting.

After tallying birds, junior members will craft simple bird feeders by spreading peanut butter on toilet paper rolls, rolling them in birdseed, and hanging them around the garden.

Cindy Melby, co-chair of the Education and Young Gardeners Committee, said the count has transformed the children’s perspective.

“It helped our junior garden club members think about the needs of other animals instead of just themselves,” she said. “Now feeding the birds is the first thing we do at our meetings, and the children race to see who gets to put the bird seed out. It gives them great joy to feed the birds.”

Street said many of the children are most excited to use binoculars, some for the first time, to spot birds during the count.

The February timing is intentional. “It’s just before spring migrations ramp up,” Street said. “It’s a perfect time to see which birds are around before they start moving north.”

Step-by-step instructions for participation are available at www.birdcount.org. Participants select a location, watch for at least 15 minutes on one or more of the four days, and record all birds seen or heard using Merlin Bird ID for beginners or eBird for those more experienced.

Additional resources, including checklists, podcasts, posters and social media graphics, are also available through the website to make participation easy and engaging for families and individuals alike.