PROJECT FEEDERWATCH

Gardeners can help scientists know just where the birds are in winter

- MEGHAN SHINN

The short-eared owl winters across most of the United States. It isn’t considered a species of conservation concern, but its population is declining. Participants in Project FeederWatch can help keep tabs on these owls, which are sensitive to habitat loss.

In participatory science, people from all walks of life contribute to research projects that build toward a better understanding of the natural world. Usually designed and managed by professional scientists, these volunteer projects allow an organization to gather a larger amount of data, perhaps over a bigger area or time period, than would be possible for a small staff or team to collect. Meanwhile, participants learn more about the subject at hand, gain experience in the scientifi c process and put their passions and eff orts toward a bigger cause.

In the United States, there are hundreds of opportunities to join in participatory science, with programs designed to work on a local, regional or national level. Many can be found in the searchable catalog at the website CitizenScience.gov. This year in Horticulture we’re spotlighting a few nationally accessible projects that may be especially interesting and convenient for gardeners to participate in.

PROJECT FEEDERWATCH

For more than 30 years, people across the United States and Canada have participated in Project FeederWatch, which evolved out of an older, Ontario-based bird survey. Managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, the program aims to map winter bird populations, helping scientists to understand the kinds and numbers of birds present (or not present) throughout the states and provinces from November through April.

The data that volunteers provide through Project FeederWatch helps ornithologists identify long-term trends or changes in winter bird populations—their locations, numbers and overall range.