Citizen scientists turn their eyes to their backyards this weekend for the Great Backyard Bird Count.
The annual event that runs from Feb. 17 to 20 gives everyone a chance to collect important data about backyard birds
The GBBC is a joint project of Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society and is sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited on Bryne Drive in Barrie.
It's a study that helps better define bird ranges, populations, migration pathways and habitat needs.
The Great Backyard Bird Count was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds.
Participants must count birds for at least 15 minutes on one of the days, but are free to count as long as they wish during that time period.
Once your numbers are collected, report the information online at http://gbbc.birdcount.org/.
This links you with scientists, providing feedback through graphics, animated maps and other regularly-updated information.
Participants can also count birds in local parks or other locations.