The Lincoln area will have four events focused on the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) during the weekend of Valentine’s Day. These events, hosted by Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center (SCPAC) and Wachiska Audubon Society, will feature guided bird walks, trivia, crafts, and other activities.

The GBBC began in 1998 as the first online community-science project to gather and display almost real-time data on wild birds. Now, it has become one of the most wide-reaching community science projects with participants in over 100 countries.

This year’s GBBC will kick off on Friday, February 14, at SCPAC with a free Valentine’s Day-themed bird walk from 10-11:30 am. Staff will present trivia on Nebraska bird mating and courting rituals before ending the walk with chocolates for everyone. Registration is preferred at scp@audubon.org.

February 15 will feature two events – a guided family bird walk and a “Bird EnCOUNTer”. The walk is from 10-11:30 am at SCPAC and will focus on winter bird survival skills. Registration is recommended at scp@audubon.org.

The “Bird EnCOUNTer” will take place from 10:30 am-12 noon at the Walt Library Branch in Lincoln. Join members of the Wachiska Audubon Society in making bird crafts and other activities. It is free to attend for all ages.

SCPAC will host a program from 4-5:30 pm on Sunday, February 16, called “Birds & Brews: Goatsuckers, Nightjars, & Timberdoodles!” Jason “The Birdnerd” St. Sauver, Director of Education and Outreach for SCPAC, and Stephen Brenner, biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, will present on some Nebraska birds with peculiar names while participants sample a variety of local brews. Must be 21 or older to attend and registration is required. Tickets are $15 per adult; purchase tickets at springcreek.audubon.org/events.