Why Do People Count Robins in Winter?
By Laura Erickson, Ornithologist and Journey North Robin Expert

1. Photo KDeMusey

   To satisfy curiosity. From the time we are babies, our brains are filled with questions. We just can't help it! How many birds are there? Where do our summer birds live in the winter? How do birds know when it's time to migrate? Are there more berries in places where robins winter than in places where they don't? What is the most common bird in North America? We are curious!
2. To learn more about how people can be affected by birds. For example, some birds have been involved in airplane crashes. You probably read about the plane landing in the Hudson River in January 2009 after it collided with a flock of geese. Some planes have crashed, and people been killed, after a plane collided with songbirds, too. Knowing where different birds are most abundant, and how high they migrate, is helpful for scientists who work with airplane safety issues. (Robins haven't been involved in plane crashes, but a slightly smaller bird, the European Starling, has.) Another example, more about robins: people who grow fruit need to know exactly where large numbers of robins are roosting so if their fruit trees are at risk, they can put nets over them BEFORE the robins eat up their crop!
3. To know how their population is doing. People participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count are not just counting robins. They are counting rare or uncommon species as well as our good old abundant robins. Keeping track of their a species numbers year after year provides a lot of information about which species need help. Then we can act in time.
4. To have fun! Counting flocks of birds can be tricky, but it's the kind of trickiness that many of us humans find enjoyable — like working puzzles or playing chess. And counting birds gives people a good reason to spend a day outdoors, adding to the fun.