Great Backyard Bird Count—Central Node

Even during winter, hummingbirds may be present and use feeders put out by thoughtful folk; this immature male Rufous Hummingbird stayed the winter of 2005–2006 at a feeder on Aspen Dr., Putnam Co., TN, and was recorded during the GBBC Pooled Data Event 18 February 2006; photo Stan Hood (16 January 2006).

A late winter bird count coordinated by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and now powered by eBird, the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) occurs during a four-day period in mid-February each year. The next GBBC will be conducted 14–17 February 2014.  Here is a link to the continental GBBC website:

   In the past (2003–2013), backyard bird counters have used GBBC protocols to count birds at 10 or more sites within one county; the results of their effort were then pooled to give a larger picture of late winter birdlife in that county; these data were then further pooled to give an even larger picture of late winter birdlife in the Region. You may see results of the Pooled Data Events (PDEs) for any year during the period (2003–2013) when this birding event was active in the UCR or more limited results for later years, by clicking on one of the links provided below:

    The late winter data resulting from the GBBC PDEs offer a nice comparison to the early winter bird data collected during Christmas Bird Counts (CBC).  To see a table offering comparative data on total species recorded on CBCs in the UCR versus total species recorded on Great Backyard Bird Counts DPEs in the UCR for the decade beginning with the winter of 2003–2004 and ending with the winter of 2012–2013, click on the following link:

    Here is a link to a synopsis of the methodology formerly used for PDEs:

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