Join The Great Backyard Bird Count 2/18 to 2/21
The Great Backyard Bird Count takes place from 2/18 to 2/21, and you can do your part to help by spending 15 minutes per day for four days watching and counting the birds you see. Join people all over the world and record your bird sightings as part of this community science event. Birding is a wonderful way to get outside and learn about the natural world, and the bare trees this time of year make it easy to spot birds.
You can join the Count from anywhere, and GoPhillyGo is the easiest way to plan sustainable trips to places near you to see birds in their natural habitat. Download the GoPhillyGo Android app or save the mobile site to your device’s home screen for walking, biking, and transit directions to parks, trails, greenspaces, and more.
The Philadelphia region is home to hundreds of species of birds, and identifying them can be tricky. Use apps like eBird and Merlin Bird ID to help you identify the birds you see. Then record your findings here.
We’ve put together a list of some great walking, biking, and transit accessible destinations where you can be outside counting birds, as well as a link from our friends at the Audubon Society with some tips for birding. Each bird you record helps scientists learn about the species of birds that live here. Join this fun event, and let GoPhillyGo help you get to your next birding destination.
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge is dedicated to protecting an important bird habitat in Philly and Delaware County that includes a large tidal marshland where the Darby Creek meets the Delaware River, and you can spot birds as you wander through miles of wetlands, forests, and meadows. Hike along the lake known as the impoundment and keep an eye out for bald eagles' nests along the way.
The park has a 3.2 mile paved greenway following the winding Tacony Creek through North Philadelphia and is home to many types of birds. The park hosts bilingual birding events throughout the year and you can use these birding guides in both English and Spanish to learn about the birds that live in this important urban greenspace.
FDR Park doubled its size last year when it reopened the former golf course as a natural habitat. Now this amazing park has twice as much space to go bird watching. Use the Broad Street Line to get here, then check out the lakes, wetlands, and trees to see how many birds you can count.
Visit The Discovery Center and look for birds while you hike around the once hidden Strawberry Mansion Reservoir. Currently, access to this amazing greenspace is limited to 10am-5pm Tuesday through Saturday and 12-5pm on Sundays. As an audubon center they also host frequent birding walks and can often lend binoculars if you don’t have a pair of your own.
The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
The Center’s woodlands, ponds, fields, and streams are home to many species of birds. Hike along the cliffs above the Schuylkill River, and look for hawks and other birds of prey. This diverse natural habitat is transit accessible and has a trail crossing with the Schuylkill River Trail where you will find a bike rack and trail leading up to the Center.
This huge park has been designated an Important Bird Area by Audubon. Join a group birdwalk on 2/18 for the Great Backyard Bird Count and explore Houston Meadow, or visit for yourself and explore the hillside trails along the Wissahickon gorge as you look for birds in the trees above.
Want more tips for birding? Check out the Audubon's guide for lots of other great resources.
