Making a difference

Knowing population trends, migratory movements and habitat requirements is extremely important in determining how to protect and conserve birds.

Scientists and ornithologists work to analyze data, which is then interpreted into practical on-the-ground management techniques. The difference between this scientific endeavor and most others is that volunteers from communities around the country, and indeed the world, make a huge contribution to the quantity and quality of bird data available to scientists. Any bird sighting is potentially valuable — from the results of a formal bird walk to the birds seen at your feeder. And, with the technology available today, data can be submitted to scientists almost instantaneously.

One such opportunity that the whole family can participate in is happening Feb. 17 to 20. The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird-watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent.

Anyone can take part, from beginning bird-watchers to experts.

I like this event because you can do it at home with your family, it takes only as long as you want it to and, as the count progresses, anyone with Internet access can explore what is being reported from their own towns or anywhere in the United States and Canada.

Scientists use data from the Great Backyard Bird Count to give us important information about our winter birds. As a result, we can find out things like how this mild winter is affecting bird populations, the location of winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others and how the timing of birds’ migrations compare with those of past years.

To find out more about the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon and Bird Studies Canada, go online to www.birdsource.org. You can also find information there on other citizen-science opportunities such as the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch and eBird.

And don’t forget that as the 2012 field season approaches, volunteers can make a huge difference in the conservation effort by helping to protect shorebirds, participating in monitoring projects, helping to remove invasive plants, developing bird-friendly backyards and much more. Many resources are available on the web and, of course, I am always here to let you know what is available locally and throughout the Tri-state area. Don’t underestimate the difference that you can make.

 
Scott Heth is the director of Audubon Sharon and can be reached at sheth@audubon.org, (subject line: Nature Notes).