I recently saw this in the newspaper and found it to be something many people would enjoy the chance to know about and perhapes become a member of.
Project Feeder Watch, is a volunteer program for all winter long from Nov-April, counting of birds that come to your feeders. It helps scientists track the movements of winter bird populations and keep track of how many are accounted for.
The project costs $15, for annual participation and you receive a research kit that contains instructions, a bird identifation poster, a wall calender, a resource guide to bird feeding and a tally sheet. Plus, in the United States, you receive a subscription to the Lab Of Omithology's newsletter, called Bird Scope.
If in Canada, you receive Bird Studies Canada's quarterly publication, called Birdwatch Canada.
Kits are shipped out in the fall of each year about two weeks after you sign up. You must provide the feeders and the seed. And you selected 2 consectutive days you want to bird-count, once every two weeks.
Gives you a great way to learn more about wild birds and be able to contribute to science and conservation efforts.
Contact in the USA is made at:
Project Feeder Watch
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
1-800-843-2473
1-607-254-2427
Contact in Canada is made at:
Project Feeder Watch
Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160
Port Rowan, ON NOE 1 MO
1-888-448-2473
1-519-586-3531
In our area there is a birdwatchers club that joins in with the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. This is a early-winter bird census, where volunteer's follow specified routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle counting every bird they can identify all day long. Check with local birdwatching clubs in your area, for more information.
