ALPENA — Flock to the bird feeders or your favorite birding locations Feb. 13 to 16 for the Great Backyard bird count.

Barbara Cole of the Thunder Bay Audubon society said that anyone can participate, even if you just have feeders in your backyard.

According to the official Bird Count website, it is easy to join in on the fun.

All you have to do is first, decide where you will watch birds. Watch birds for 15 minutes or more in that location, at least once over the four day period.

Then, identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings.

If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell what birds you are seeing or hearing.

If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website.

The Great Backyard bird count provides data for the Cornell Lab, Cole said.

“It helps them know what’s still in the area,” she said.

People that make a hobby of bird watching are called birders.

“There’s times where I just go out … I went out the other day for a quick drive and saw a red-shouldered hawk,” Cole said.

Cole said it’s fun to count birds, and when one comes close to the road while she’s driving, she’s “just awestruck.”

“Its just fun to do, and it doesn’t cost any money, per say,” she said.

The Thunder Bay Audubon Society is also hosting two owl researchers from Whitefish Point at 2 p.m. on Feb. 14 at the Alpena County Library. The event is free and open to everyone.

Reagan Voetberg. News Staff Writer. rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.