Downy Woodpecker at peanut feeder
You can help scientists track fluctuations in bird populations right from your kitchen table or any other place with a view of your bird feeders. Project Feeder Watch, a long-running study by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada, kicked off this weekend and will run through mid April.
This is a very easy way to help scientists by helping to gather data right from your backyard. You simply count how many birds of each species are at your feeders at one time. You can do it in as little as 15 minutes each weekend (or as long as you want) and you submit your counts to their online database.
Thousands of people around the country participate in this program every year, and scientists can use this data to track bird abundance and distribution and because this program has been running for so many years, scientists have been able to determine which species are declining and what can be done to stop those declines.
If you have kids this is a wonderful way to engage them in scientific inquiry and teach them how to identify different species of birds.
Are you a feeder watcher? Please tell us who’s at your feeders.
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Great photo Carole! I agree, this is a fun project. I must get involved again.
Alison Kerr´s last post ..Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses
Love the title – be a citizen scientist – and post. Getting people actively involved in these types of fun projects is a real benefit for conservation. Especially introducing kids to wildlife and getting them involved fosters conservation for the future.
Scott´s last post ..My Hotbed of Burrowing Owls