I’ve seen a ton of robins this winter. On several occasions, I’ve seen them in big numbers attacking bushes and trees and stripping them of fruit.

I’ll always remember the first time I saw this spectacle. It was more than 20 years ago, and I was a relatively new birder. I walked into the woods and the trees were alive with bird life. Birds were darting from tree to tree all around me.

I was finally able to focus on a few and discovered that they were all robins. I was surprised because, at the time, I still thought of robins as spring and summer birds in New England. They are the harbinger of spring, aren’t they?

Not exactly. Many robins stay in New England throughout winter. They just aren’t as noticeable in the winter. They aren’t hopping along every yard and field looking for worms like they are in the spring. They are scouring the woods looking for berries.

What also sticks out about that day is that it was during the Great Backyard Bird Count. It was one of my first times participating in the GBBC (maybe it was the first for all I remember), and I couldn’t believe I was going to enter 80 robins on my list. I wondered at the time whether the compilers would even believe me. 

It is a good memory of a past GBBC. Well, it’s almost time to make new memories, as the next GBBC is coming up February 14-17. 

The GGBC is one of many bird counts that help draw a clearer picture of how bird populations are faring throughout the world. The GBBC started as a rather modest North American venture, but it is now a worldwide phenomenon. Along with the Christmas Bird Count, the GBBC is one of the more popular counts. More than half a million people participated last year.

Unlike the Christmas Bird Count, which is done by teams of birders in specific areas, the GBBC can be done anywhere by anyone as long as it falls on that long weekend. It is also free and easy to participate.

Here’s how easy it is: count birds (either in the field or looking out a window), keep track of the birds seen, and submit the results online. If you see three birds in 15 minutes of effort, great. If you see 100 birds in 10 hours, that’s great too. All data is valuable. Participants should count the species and number of each species.

There are no prizes for the most birds seen, and it is not designed to be competitive. But, by all means, if you and your friends or neighbors want to make a wager on who counts the most birds, go ahead. Or you can join forces with your friends or neighbors and go out birding together. Submit only one checklist per group.

Data may be submitted in a few different ways. It wasn’t long ago that lists could be mailed in, but the event has grown and technology has advanced to the point where all lists must be submitted online. Ebird users will have their lists automatically submitted for the GBBC during those days. Other users can visit www.birdcount.org and click on the “How to Participate” button.

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited is the founding sponsor.

Have fun out there. Let me know your highlights.

For the Birds runs on Mondays in The Sentinel. Chris Bosak may be reached at chrisbosak26@gmail.com or through his website www.birdsofnewengland.com