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The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are calling for volunteers this weekend to count what are known as  “Backyard” birds.  But you don’t even have to go outside to count them.

These aren’t remote birds who live high in the canopies of thick forests. These are birds who can be seen out a window on a birdfeeder or at a city park.  Although the bird count is meant to be fun and educational Pat Leonard of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology says the annual count, which is in its 13th year, helps scientists track bird populations across the U.S and Canada. She says last year birders from Connecticut counted 141 species.

“Connecticut has actually done very well. And considering the size of it, obviously you can’t compare apples and oranges, Connecticut to a Texas, for example, but last year the folks in Connecticut sent more than 1400 bird check lists. And that was a record for Connecticut over the last dozen years of the count.  So we hope that trajectory continues.”

Leonard asks participants to report only the highest number of species they see, at any one time, to make sure individual birds aren’t counted more then once.  Birders can report their sightings at www.birdcount.org