With mild temperatures, warm sunshine, and plenty of wintering birds to see, it’s no wonder February is the perfect time of year for the Great Backyard Bird Count in Florida. Established in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the four-day event annually invites people around the world to go birdwatching. The goal? Identify and count all the birds they see in (at least) fifteen minutes, wherever they are, and record the sightings on eBird. These observations help scientists better understand bird population trends before they migrate.

Here at Audubon, we don’t need a special event on the calendar to use as an excuse to get out and go birding. For some of us who keep running lists out our window or during our daily commute, it is an easy assignment that takes no extra effort. But for others, it is an opportunity to spend time with friends or family somewhere different.

Julie Wraithmell, Audubon Florida’s executive director, lives in Tallahassee. “I did two lists - one from St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge and one from an urban stormwater pond at the Florida A&M University campus.” Her highlight from St. Marks was a Western Kingbird, while a Little Blue Heron, uncommon in town, was the highlight on the campus.

Communications Director Erika Zambello, another Tallahassee resident, counted birds at a dam at the outflow of Lake Talquin—while fishing with her husband. She caught a crappie and a long-nosed gar, and her bird highlight was a Bonaparte’s Gull.

Meanwhile, north of Orlando, EagleWatch Program Manager Shawnlei Breeding was excited to take part by birding in her backyard and at two local parks. She recorded 100 birds of 18 different species. The highlight for her was watching a large flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings foraging around her backyard: “Because they aren't permanent residents, I cherish them while they're here.”

Rooftop Biologist Kara Cook of St. Petersburg did two lists from her backyard patio with a total of 227 individuals counted covering 27 species. A highlight was hearing a Pileated Woodpecker. “That’s a new neighborhood checklist bird for me!”

In Collier County, Director of Public Programs Sally Stein counted birds in her yard, at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and in the Sarasota area at Spanish Point and Oscar Sherer State Park. Her favorite finds were a flock of American White Pelicans flying overhead, an American Kestrel, Glossy Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills at Corkscrew, and Brown Thrashers and Brown-headed Nuthatches in her yard.

Data gathered over time is used to analyze how a species’ range or behavior may be changing, which could be a sign that something is affecting the birds that might require attention. But the bottom line is that everyone participating can benefit by spending time outdoors with loved ones or simply looking at birds. Scientists say it’s good for the soul.