Connect to birds, to nature, and with each other
Birds are everywhere, all the time, doing fascinating things. Join us, February 12-15, 2021, when the world comes together for the love of birds. The GBBC is a project with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada.
What we’ll do during the Bird Count
We’ll join a worldwide group of people coming together for the love of birds! We have an FPCA group account, and we will see how many birds we can count as a church over the four days of the official bird count, from Feb 12-15. All you have to do to participate is count birds for at least 15 minutes on one of the four days. (Or, count as long and as often as you like! ) Using the suggested apps or website, you will identify and then report the birds you count. That’s it!
Watch the Sunday Faith Formation Class
Click here to watch a video of the Sunday February 7th class to learn all about this joint project between Creation Care and Faith Formation ministries. FPCA members Anna Vess and Esther Pardue led us in an interactive class about birds, birds in the Bible, and practical tips for how you can participate in this worldwide project.
Download the Bird Count Instructions
Download the Bird Count Instructions to read all about how to report the birds you see. The easiest way to report birds is with two free Apps for your phone: Merlin Bird ID and eBird Mobile app. Merlin Bird is a quick and easy way to identify birds, and eBird is for entering your list. The Apps walk you through the whole process, so you just need to follow the prompts. One account will work for both Apps. We’ve set up a church account that will enable us to track and share the results with everyone afterwards. Read all about it and learn how to join our church account by downloading the Bird Count Instructions above. (Our church username for both Apps is fpcasheville . The church account password is 40Church .) We will go over this during the Faith Formation class on February 7th, so join us! You can also see intro videos on both Apps below.
Don’t want to use the Apps? Use the Bird Count Data Form below to record the birds by hand that you see, and then upload them to the eBird website, or share the form with us and we will help report them for you.
Find more info here: The Great Backyard Bird Count Website
Explore the Bird Count Daily Advent Calendar
We’ve set up a daily Advent Calendar of bird info and fun for children (of all ages). Starting on February 7th, open a daily window to reveal more about birds and join in the fun.
Count Birds between February 12 and February 15th!
Get counting! All you have to do to participate is count birds for at least 15 minutes during the Bird Count, and then submit your count on eBird. You can do it as often as you like during those days (or even after, if you get bit by the birding bug!)
Join our interactive Zoom gathering for all participants – February 13
We’ll have two breakout rooms – one for adult participants and one for children and families. Come ask your questions, share what birds you have seen, and celebrate creation with church friends. Find the Zoom link on our church calendar.
Growing Faith at Home 