Project Feeder Watch – Citizens’ Birdwatching Research
When it is too cold and blustery for you to travel to the wilds, you do not have to forego the pleasures of birdwatching. Get yourself involved with Project Feeder Watch to engage with the birds and wildlife right in your neighborhood.
FeederWatchers count the birds they see at their feeders during the specified winter months and report their sightings to Project FeederWatch. The data from these many observers is very helpful for scientists who are tracking overall movements of winter bird populations. Project FeederWatch is survey of birds that frequent feeders at backyards and nature centers in North America throughout the winter months. The observations made by these volunteer birdwatchers contributes to genuine scientific research about bird distribution and abundance.
It is a simple and creative way for the everyday citizen to participate in genuine scientific research of value. Project FeederWatch effectively monitors the distribution and abundance of many winter bird species.
Cornell University Ornithology Lab manages Project FeederWatch in partnership with Bird Studies-Canada, the National Wildlife Federation and Audubon Society and has many contributing members and partners beyond their borders. The nominal registration fee in the US is $12 and in Canada is $35. It is amazing what those small fees can accomplish. The fees include materials, staff support, data analysis and an annual report of results.
What do Feederwatch participants really do? Watch and count birds that come in to their feeders. Every participant identifies the specific place where they will be observing to avoid duplication. In addition, birders report only the highest number of individuals that seen in view at one time. That prevents a lot of repetition and duplication.
The season for Project FeederWatch begins in November on the second Saturday. It continues for 21 weeks all the way into early April. You can still register as late as February for this year’s count. This program is been running for 13 years. Additional bird counts of special interest include the Christmas Count and the Great Backyard Birding Count.
The serious birdwatcher can use this program to really focus on improving bird identification skills. Actually, that is also true for the beginning birder. By observing often and up close you notice different traits and behaviors of birds. You count birds two days in a row every two weeks as a minimum. Many birdwatchers count once a week and report their data online.
When Project FeederWatch was first starting out in Canada, in the mid-1970s, there were 500 members in the Ontario region. After the broader partnerships began, the first year of the international scope there were 4000 birdwatchers reporting from Canada to Hawaii. Today there are more than 15,000 birdwatchers participating in the program. The resources provided are ideal for teachers and bird lovers. Their identification materials and newsletters are exemplary and accurate science well presented.
You can become a proactive birdwatcher.Get involved with local bird counts. Learn to identify birds quickly with Donna Bessken’s BirdWatching ECourse. Grab a totally unique version of this article from the Uber Article Directory
