[photo credit: Descanso Gardens]
The worldwide event runs from Feb. 13 to 16, 2026, with participants helping track how bird populations are changing by counting the species they see and submitting their observations.
The count is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, and has grown into a global snapshot of bird life.
In 2025, participants documented 8,078 bird species worldwide, 158 more than in 2024, with more than 800,000 people taking part from over 200 countries.
Organizers highlight how easy it is to join in: They tell people to simply watch birds for 15 minutes or more at least once over the four-day period and report what they see.
At Descanso Gardens, the 2026 programs highlight how local birding connects to global conservation.
The garden, a 150-acre, pesticide-free landscape that supports wildlife including birds, is hosting Great Backyard Bird Count events on all four days.
The programs are led by David Weeshoff, vice president of the Pasadena Audubon Society and a longtime conservation volunteer.
Observations from Descanso feed into the eBird database, where scientists use the combined data to monitor population trends, migration patterns and regions needing conservation attention.
For organizers, the count is as much about people as it is about birds.
Communications manager Kathi Borgmann notes that birding is “having a moment,” with growing interest, especially among younger generations.
She points to the mental health benefits of spending time in nature and the way birdwatching builds community — people trading sightings, learning together and, over time, caring more deeply about the environment around them.
Great Backyard Bird Count Tour will run on Monday, Feb. 16, 9:00 am, at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011. For more information, call 818.949.4200 or visit https://www.descansogardens.org/event/bird-count/2026-02-16/. Ticket prices: free with garden admission; general admission is $18 for adults, $14 for seniors and students with school ID, $8 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children 2 and under.
