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| Photo by J.J. Meyer |
This citizen science project, sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada, is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at back yards, nature centers, community areas and other locales in North America. Participants periodically count the birds they see at their feeders through early April and log their counts on the program's website.
The information helps scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. FeederWatch data show which bird species visit feeders at thousands of locations across the continent every winter, as well as how many individuals of each species are seen. This information can be used to measure changes in the winter ranges and abundances of bird species over time.
You don't have to be an advanced birder to participate. Just watch feeders as much or as little as you want over two consecutive days as often as every week.
There is a $18 annual participation fee for U.S. residents ($15 for Cornell Lab members). The participation fee covers materials, staff support, web design, data analysis, and a year-end report (Winter Bird Highlights). Project FeederWatch is supported almost entirely by participation fees. Without the support of our participants, this project wouldn’t be possible.
For more information and sign up, go to Project FeederWatch.
Happy Birding!
J.J.
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