Indiana Official Bird Counts

Indiana Audubon sponsors and supports several bird counts throughout the year, each with its own protocol and data sheets. We encourage IAS Members to participate in these citizen/community science opportunities. Some counts are organized by partner organizations, and information can be found on their respective count pages. To download the the Indiana Audubon state birding checklist, click here.

Christmas Bird Count

IAS members can participate in one of the annual Christmas Bird Counts, sponsored by the National Audubon Society. Indiana data is collected additionally for publication in the Indiana Audubon Quarterly, submitted by the state compiler. Count dates depend on compilers submitting info, so if a count is missing, please let us know. Find out more about the Christmas Bird Counts.

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.

Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, more than 160,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.

The 22nd annual GBBC will be held from February 14-17, 2025. Visit the official website at birdcount.org for more information and be sure to check out the latest educational and promotional resources.

Global Big Day Count (formerly May Day Count)

After thoughtful consideration and discussion, Indiana Audubon has decided to discontinue the annual Big May Day Bird Count (BMDBC), traditionally held on the second Saturday in May. Despite its 27-year history, participation has declined significantly, with fewer than half of Indiana’s counties submitting data and a notable drop in individual participants — a decrease of over 100 counters between the first 14 years and the last 13 years, through 2019.

However, the BMDBC will merge with the popular Global Big Day, continuing the tradition of bird counting on the first weekend of May. Learn more about the changes and what’s in store.