Various Citizen Science projects...joinn in and make a difference!

-----Original Message-----
From:  [mailto:[log in to unmask]]

Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 10:07 AM
To: 
Subject: Great Backyard Bird Count and other news


	

News from Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and Audubon!

 

Since you took part in the Great Backyard Bird Count earlier this
year, we thought we'd remind you about the dates for next year's
event, and some other activities in which you may like to get
involved, namely Project FeederWatch and the Christmas Bird Count. 

 

Join the FeederWatching, join the fun!

Sign up now for Project FeederWatch--counting begins November 12 

Last year, as a participant of the Great Backyard Bird Count, you
helped scientists create a snapshot view of the abundance and
distribution of North American birds. Now we invite you to help
scientists monitor changes in feeder bird populations by counting
birds throughout the winter as part of Project FeederWatch. Project
participants count birds at their feeders as often as once a week
from November through April and submit counts online or on paper
data forms. Long-term monitoring programs, such as FeederWatch, are
important for identifying and targeting research and conservation
efforts. FeederWatch begins its 19th season on November 12. You can
join at any time. 

 

Project FeederWatch is a citizen-science project sponsored by the
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Studies Canada, and Audubon. 

 

FeederWatchers receive a research kit that includes a handbook, a
bird identification poster, a calendar, and an instruction booklet.
Participants also receive an annual subscription to BirdScope (U.S.)
or BirdWatch Canada (Canada). The program costs $15 ($12 for Lab
members), and $35 for participants in Canada. 

 

Sign up today! U.S. residents can sign up at the FeederWatch web
site click here <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/>  or call (800)
843-2473. To join in Canada,  click
<http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/pfw.html> here or call (888)
448-2473. All participants are welcome! 

Count birds at your feeders--or in the field!  Join a Christmas Bird
Count, between December 14 and January 5 

 

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is the "great granddaddy" of citizen
science programs, first conducted on Christmas Day of 1900.  Each
CBC takes place in a 15-mile (24-kilometer) circle, and each count
has an organizer, or Compiler.  While the Great Backyard Bird Count
looks at birds toward the end of the winter season, the CBC provides
a snapshot in the early winter.  Each of more than 2000 different
CBCs take place on one calendar day within the official count
period, and every bird seen by field parties and Feeder Watchers
within the circle is tallied and compiled to a master list for each
season. Audubon publishes the summary results in
<http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/105thSummary.html> American Birds .


 

The combined results of Christmas Bird Count data over the past
century are now available online, and are providing information to
researchers on the status of early-winter birds.  When combined with
"trend" data from the Breeding Bird Survey, the CBC helps us
understand what is happening to bird populations across the
continent and beyond. 

 

If you live within a CBC circle, you can join in and count birds at
your feeder, submitting your numbers to the count's Compiler.  If
you do not live within a CBC circle, you will need to travel to the
area to participate.  If you are a first-time CBC participant in the
field, you will be out with experienced observers.  If you would
like to join the Christmas Bird Count, it is important to contact a
Compiler in advance. 

The CBC is coordinated by Audubon in the United States, Caribbean,
and Latin America, and by Bird Studies Canada in Canada.  There is a
$5.00 participation fee for field observers, but no fee for feeder
watchers. 

 

Sign up to participate! Beginning in mid-November U.S. residents can
find dates and contact information at the
<http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html> Christmas Bird Count
website , and click on the "Get Involved" link to find a count near
you. To join in Canada, visit the
<http://www.bsc-eoc.org/national/cbcmain.html> Bird Studies Canada
website or call (888) 448-2473. All participants are welcome! 

 

Great Backyard Bird Count Needs Your Help!

Help spread the word.


The ninth annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up February
17-20. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon are looking for
people to help spread word about the event. Become an ambassador for
the count--you can choose your level of involvement. You could put
up posters, forward email messages to friends and list serves, send
press releases to your newspaper, host a GBBC workshop, or encourage
libraries and nature centers to make computers available for
participants to enter data. We'll provide the information and the
rest is up to you! 

To become an ambassador and receive a packet from us by mail, write
to Jennifer Smith at  Type GBBC in the subject
line. 

Include the following information in the body of the email message: 

 

NAME

ADDRESS

PHONE NUMBER 

EMAIL ADDRESS 

INTERVIEWS OK or NO INTERVIEWS 

(Some ambassadors enjoy talking to local reporters about their
participation in the count; others prefer to help in other ways. If
you would like to be available for interviews, type INTERVIEWS OK in
the body of the email message. If you don't want us to give your
name out as an interviewee, type NO INTERVIEWS.) 

 

We'll have more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count in
the coming months. 

 

Finally, the Science Team at Audubon has just produced a new
newsletter. To read more, just click
<http://www.audubon.org/bird/pdf/ScienceNewsletterFall2005.pdf> here
(requires Adobe Reader) 

 

Thanks for all you do for the birds! 

 

From your friends at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and
Audubon.