A Year of Helping Birds: Become a Community Scientist
As detailed in this series’ first post, bird populations in North America have suffered a terrible decline in the past generation; there are almost 30% fewer birds now than there were in the 1970s. That’s about 3 billion birds in 50 years, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We’ve lost large amounts of many popular species, including several favorite backyard birds, such as blue jays (1 in 4 lost), red-winged blackbirds (1 in 3 lost), and dark-eyed juncos (1 in 3 lost). There are many reasons for this decline, and in this month’s post for the series A Year of Helping Birds, we’re focusing on the many ways you can help birds by helping bird scientists understand birds, their populations, and breeding.
Did you know that ordinary birders like you and me have contributed to the most important bird research in the past 50 years? When you get involved with any one of the many bird counts, you are building observations that scientists can use to help understand changes in bird populations, bird breeding, bird migrations, and other data that helps ornithologists and other scientists identify specific issues facing birds, understand birding and conservation trends, and help develop solutions to improve bird populations.
What is Community Science?
Citizen Science is a fairly new concept - Community Science is even newer. The definitions of both are still evolving. Both involve citizens (non-scientists) collecting scientific data. Citizen Science is often used when the study is planned by scientists. Community Science can be used when a community plans the study or when an environmental justice community plans the study. The Chicago region is a pioneer in engaging non-scientists in designing bird studies.
Another dimension is added when we consider the implications of the word “citizen”. One does not need to be a US citizen to participate in citizen science. In order to be inclusive we at CAS currently use the term “community science” for all instances when community members are collecting data for monitoring or a scientific study.
Community Science has contributed to scientific research in a variety of areas, including weather, astronomy, botany, and ornithology. One of the most important bird studies in recent years, the report of a staggering 30% decline of bird populations in the past 50 years, first published in the journal Science, was made possible by more than 100 years of community science: the North American Breeding Bird Survey, the Christmas Bird Count, and more recently, eBird.
There are many other important studies supported by community science which have provided opportunities to help birds. Rapid declines in chimney swift populations noted in various counts have resulted in many location-specific studies that are helping identify where chimney swift nesting can be supported with man-made swift chimney towers.
In the Chicago area, dedicated volunteer birders have contributed to community science in many ways. As an example, birders working through the Bird Conservation Network, have helped monitor and document local landowners’ successful creation of habitat for our rarest breeding birds across the region. And volunteer birders have been responsible for monitoring and documenting the endangered Great Lakes piping plovers that have been nesting at Montrose Beach.
How Can You Become a Community Scientist?
There are many ways you can help birds as a community scientist. Here’s a few ways to start:
eBird - Run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird is a widely popular program that allows birdwatchers to submit their bird sightings and contribute to a global database of bird observations. Data from ebird, submitted by ordinary people like you, have contributed to many important scientific ornithological findings.
With just a few clicks documenting the birds you see - even in your backyard - you are helping scientists of today or the future better understand bird populations overall.
Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) - For over 100 years, birders have counted birds during the holiday season. Organized by the National Audubon Society, the CBC is an annual event, where participants gather in specific areas and count all the birds they observe within a designated circle. The data collected helps researchers track bird populations and distribution patterns.
The Christmas Bird Count occurs on various days from mid December to early January. Local bird groups usually have several opportunities to join a team, so keep in touch through social media and newsletters to learn more and join a group.
Bird Conservation Network (BCN) Bird Monitoring - For nearly 30 years, this Chicagoland area group of conservation and birding groups has organized bird monitoring of specific sites during nesting season, resulting in an impressive database and trends report (PDF) for local birds, helping prioritize species and habitats to preserve and manage.
Chicago region grassland bird trends on managed natural lands 1999-2020
Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC): The GBBC is a joint initiative of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. It encourages people worldwide to observe and count birds in their backyards or local areas for a specified period each year. The data collected helps scientists monitor bird populations and detect changes over time.
Illinois Spring Bird Count: This annual count held in May, has collected over 50 years of valuable data of bird populations in Illinois. Here’s a chart showing the range of crow populations from 1975-2005, with a sharp decline in their population when the West Nile Virus arrived in Illinois.
The Chicago Audubon organizes local Illinois Spring Bird Count groups every year; stay tuned every spring to help out with this effort.
Data from the Illinois Spring Bird Count shows the decline of crow populations due to West Nile virus
Project FeederWatch: Run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Project FeederWatch invites participants to monitor and record the birds that visit their feeders during the winter months. This long-term survey provides information on bird abundance, distribution, and behavior.
NestWatch: NestWatch, also managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, focuses on monitoring bird nests. Participants can monitor nests in their backyards or local areas, record nesting activity, and contribute data on breeding success, nest site preferences, and nesting phenology.
HawkWatch International: HawkWatch International conducts raptor migration monitoring and research across North America. They organize volunteer-based programs at specific migration sites to count and track the movement of hawks. In the Chicago Area, the Illinois Beach State Park Hawk Watch is a group of volunteers who share a love of raptors, and they hold an annual hawk monitoring watch every year during fall migration, from August to November. They have an active Facebook page where you can learn more about volunteer opportunities, and the fascinating data they’ve collected over the years.
You don’t have to be an expert ornithologist to contribute to bird science. Becoming a citizen scientist is easy, fascinating and fun, and is a great way to help birds by contributing to scientific observations used by researchers and scientists today and in the future.
Learn More
Citizen Science website - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Three Generations of Citizen Science: The Pioneer - National Audubon Society
Check out all of our Year of Helping Birds articles
