Ready, set, count! The Great Backyard Bird Count.

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun event that engages bird watchers of all ages and walks of life in counting birds. Participating is simple: all you need to do is count the number and types of birds you see for 15 minutes (or as long as you like) on one or more days of the four-day event and report your sightings on the website. You can count birds from your kitchen window, your favorite state park, or anywhere in the world. And you don’t need to be an expert, either: beginning bird watchers are encouraged to participate. During the count, you can explore real-time maps and charts that show what others are reporting.

The 18^th annual GBBC runs from Friday, February 13 through Monday, February, 16 and is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society along with many international partners.

Scientists will use the data submitted to get the “big picture” about what’s happening with bird populations. Through long-term data collection and analysis, they can begin investigating how weather and climate change will impact bird populations, or how diseases such as West Nile virus are affecting birds. But these good folks can't do it without your data.

So, what are you waiting for? Go count birds!

Jennifer Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.