Why Lac La Biche Is Perfect for the Great Backyard Bird Count
At the Marigold Market, supporting local ecosystems and biodiversity is one of the core values behind what we’re building. While flowers are a big part of that, so are the birds, pollinators, native plants, and wild spaces that make healthy ecosystems possible in the first place.
A lot of the choices we make, from growing pollinator-friendly flowers to thinking carefully about how we garden come from that mindset.
I am avid birder, and that is why events like the Great Backyard Bird Count are so fun and exciting for me personally!
The Great Backyard Bird Count a global community science project that encourages people to spend a little time observing and recording the birds around them. It’s a simple idea, but an important one!
What is the Great Backyard Bird Count?
Held each February over four days, the Great Backyard Bird Count invites anyone from experienced birder or complete beginner to spend at least 15 minutes watching birds and sharing what they see.
Participants can count birds from:
a backyard feeder
a kitchen window
a walking trail
a local park
or anywhere birds happen to be present
These observations are then submitted to organizations like Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Aubudon Society, Birds Canada and other partners to help researchers better understand bird populations, migration patterns, and environmental changes over time.
Why Does it Matter?
Birds are closely tied to the health of our ecosystems. Changes in habitat, food sources, biodiversity, and climate often show up first in bird populations, making them an important indicator of environmental change.
What makes the Great Backyard Bird Count especially valuable is its scale. When thousands of people collect observations at the same time, even small counts become part of a much larger picture.
A handful of chickadees at a feeder or a woodpecker along a tree line becomes meaningful data.
For those of us who grow flowers and gardens, this is especially relevant. The same landscapes that support birds also support pollinators, healthy soils, beneficial insects, and resilient plant communities.
Paying attention to one helps us better understand the others.
Who can Participate?
Truly anyone! The Great Backyard Bird Count is designed to be inclusive and low-pressure.
You don’t need to be an experienced birder or any special equipment. Birds seen from a kitchen window, a backyard, a park bench, or a nearby trail all count. If you’re unsure about an identification, that’s okay. Learning as you go is expected, and even partial information is useful. You can also use helpful apps like Merlin, eBird or iNaturalist to help identify anything you’re not sure about
Seeing only a few birds or the same species repeated is still meaningful data.
Participation is super simple. Choose a location where you can comfortably observe birds, then watch for at least 15 minutes. Record the highest number of each species you see at one time to avoid counting the same individual more than once. You can write things down, use an app (Merlin or eBird will send the information automatically), or submit your checklist online after your count.
Birding in Lac La Biche
One of the things I’ve especially come to appreciate since moving to Lac La Biche is just how incredible this region is for birding and wildlife observation, two things I am very passionate about!
Between the lakes, boreal forest, wetlands, farmland, and surrounding provincial parks, there’s an amazing diversity of bird life here throughout the year. Areas like Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park, and Lakeland Provincial Park help protect important habitats while also giving people accessible places to connect with nature.
Even during winter, there’s still plenty happening if you slow down enough to notice it.
This year I’ve already observed:
Bohemian Waxwings swarming the mountain ash for their berries
Common Redpolls, one of my personal favourites, scooping up fallen food from feeders
House Sparrows heard before sighted on many walks
Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers at the suet feeder in the backyard
Bald Eagles surprisingly showing up on a walk around the lake
Greater Yellowlegs spotted on the same walk as the bald eagle sighting!
Depending on conditions, you may also spot owls, ravens, or water-associated birds near open patches of lake or river.
Not every species will be present everywhere, and winter conditions can change things quickly. That’s part of what makes the count valuable. Even noting what isn’t around yet helps build a clearer picture of how birds are using the landscape.
If you’re new to birding, winter is a great time to start. With fewer species overall, it’s easier to learn who’s who, notice behaviour, and recognize familiar visitors returning day after day.
A Small Habit Worth Keeping
At our farm, we think a lot about how plants, insects, birds, and people share space. Growing flowers isn’t just about what looks good in a vase. It’s also about supporting healthier systems that extend beyond the garden beds and into the wider landscape.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is a reminder that conservation doesn’t always have to happen on a huge scale. Sometimes it starts with simply paying attention to the wildlife already around us.
Small things matter:
planting pollinator-friendly flowers
leaving natural spaces where possible
supporting biodiversity in our gardens
providing food and shelter for wildlife
taking time to notice the ecosystems we’re part of
And honestly, at least for me, birding has a way of changing how you see a place. It teaches patience, observation, and appreciation for seasonal change, all things that have started shaping the way we approach growing as well.
The birds were here long before us, we’re just trying to grow alongside them!
Check out the official site for the event, register for the free webinar if you’re seeking more information and join us for the count!
