Local birders’ eyes will gaze skyward this weekend for the 2009 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) in Austin.

Austin Audubon Chapter is hosting a community GBBC count at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

The possibilities for sightings are endless. Already several flocks of Red Crossbills have been seen in the Austin area, according to birder Terry Dorsey.

“They use their cross bills to deftly extract the seeds from Spruce cones and then leave the empty cones all over the ground under the tree,” he said.

Dorothy Owens said she has a “great example” of that in her driveway on Oakland Avenue.  The Austin Audubon Chapter is hoping to see some of these birds during the GBBC Friday through Monday.

According to Dorsey, who is the GBBC coordinator, the GBBC is an annual four-day event that engages bird-watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.

Anyone can participate, from beginning bird-watchers to experts.

“It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event,” Dorsey said. “It’s free, fun and easy, and it helps the birds.”

According to Dorsey, here’s how to participate:

1. Plan to count birds for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the count. Watchers can count for longer than that if they wish. Count birds in as many places and on as many days as watchers prefer: One day, two days or all four days. Submit a separate checklist for each new day. Watchers can also submit more than one checklist per day if they count in other locations on that day.

2. Count the greatest number of individuals of each species that seen together at any one time. Watchers may find it helpful to print out the regional bird checklist to get an idea of the kinds of birds likely to be seen in any area in February. Watchers can take note of the highest number or each species seen on the checklist.

3. When finished, enter results through www.birdsource. org/gbbc. They will see a button marked “Enter Your Checklists” on the Web site home page beginning on the first day of the count Friday. It will remain active until the deadline for data submission March 1.

4.  If watchers do not have a computer or are unsure, call 433-1925, 433-4483 or (507) 567-2570 for help from an Audubon member.

“The Austin area has had the greatest number of reports for this period in past years,” Dorsey said. “With help, we can outdo some of the metropolitan areas.”