ICAATS

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 specific 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 visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, etc. in North America in the winter months. Because of the large amounts of data gathered by volunteer citizens, scientists can now see long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance for many species.

Time has shown that Project FeederWatch is a proven method for monitoring the distribution and abundance of winter bird populations. It is a simple and creative way for the everyday citizen to participate in genuine scientific research of value.

This partnership with Cornell University Ornithology Lab and Bird-Studies Canada, the National Wildlife Federation and Audubon Society has far reaching impact. The nominal registration fee covers materials, staff support, analysis of data and an annual report of results in professional publications. Project Feederwatch is a remarkable citizen response to a real research need, all for a fee of only $12 in the US and $35 in Canada.

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.

When does this happen? For the past 13 years, Project FeederWatch has been running for 21 weeks starting with the second Saturday in November. So it ends in early April. February is the latest you can sign up to participate in each year’s count. Additional bird counts of interest and merit include the Christmas Count and the Great Backyard Birding Count.

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.

Today there are more than 15,000 birdwatchers in the Project FeederWatch program, but it started out with just 500 members in Ontario in the mid-1970s. During the first year of its international scope there were 4000 birdwatchers reporting from Canada to Hawaii. The resources provided are ideal for teachers and bird lovers. Their identification materials and newsletters are exemplary.