Project Feeder Watch – Citizen Birdwatchers’ Research

Birds are outdoors no matter what the weather is. So you can watch them from the comfort of your home be participating 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 started with one nature center and is now an international event. What a dramatic and simple technique to bring the average person into authentic and valuable scientific research. FeederWatch does effectively monitor the activities of many winter bird populations.

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.

So what do these birdwatcher actually do? It is barely more than watching birds that come to their bird feeders. Every bird watcher participant claims the site where they will be observing and counting birds. This minimizes duplication of efforts. Each time a birder counts and observes only the highest number of bird species are counted. That also reduces confusion.

When does this happen? For the past 13 years, Project FeederWatch has been starting on the the second Saturday in November. The project continues for 21 weeks into early April. Additional bird counts of interest and merit include the Christmas Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count. After February it is too late to register for this year’s count, but not too early to register for next year.

This is a terrific time for birdwatchers to hone their bird identification skills. You get to pay attention to details up close and often. 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.

Project FeederWatch has grown since its 1970′s origins with 500 members in Ontario. Now the materials they provide are excellent resources for teachers and bird lovers alike. The first year of the international scope had 4000 birdwatchers reporting from Canada to Hawaii. Now, there are more than 15,000 birdwatchers with the program.

Be a proactive birder. Local bird counts are often fun and engaging. Learn to identify birds quickly with Donna Bessken’s BirdWatching ECourse. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service

No Tag Tags:bird counts,bird feeders,bird identification,bird studies,bird watching,Education,project feeder watch,project feederwatch,scientific bird counts,winter bird watching,winter recreation

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