The 2009 - 10 Project FeederWatch
season begins on Saturday, November 14, 2009 and ends on April
9,
2010.
Watching birds at
feeders is a pleasure shared by millions of North Americans. No
matter where you live, there's a good chance you can entice birds to
your feeder and enjoy hours of entertainment. Turning this bird
watching hobby into research for bird conservation is what Project
FeederWatch is all about.
Project FeederWatch is an annual survey of North American birds that
visit backyard feeders in winter. FeederWatchers periodically count
the highest numbers of each species they see at their feeders from
November through early April. These observations are then used by
scientists to track broad scale trends in distribution and abundance
of birds. This partnership between backyard bird watchers and
ornithologists has resulted in a wealth of information about winter
bird populations. Data from FeederWatchers have helped scientists
learn about changes in the distribution and abundance of feeder
birds over time; expansions and contractions in their winter ranges;
the spread of disease through bird populations; and the kinds of
habitats and foods that attract birds.
Project FeederWatch began as the Ontario Bird Feeder Survey in 1976,
sponsored by the Long Point Bird Observatory. In 1987, it grew to
become a continental survey that now attracts nearly 16,000
participants annually. Project FeederWatch is managed by Bird
Studies Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Watch birds at your feeder weekly from November through March.
Count the kinds and numbers of birds at your feeder.
Record the data on line.
Paper dataforms are available.
When you enroll in Project FeederWatch, you'll get:
A full-sized, colour poster of common feeder birds,
A six-month bird calendar,
A comprehensive instruction book,
useful handbook, and
Bird Studies Canada's quarterly magazine
BirdWatch Canada, covering the latest FeederWatch results, articles on bird behaviour, answers to your bird
questions and more.
