"Perhaps less widely known is that the next few days are also literally for the birds. I'm talking about the Great Backyard Bird Count, a project that avian enthusiasts around the globe can participate in to help scientists understand how birds are faring in our changing world. The count, organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada, is held for four days each February to take stock of global bird populations before they undertake migration starting in March."
"During this time, participants are encouraged to observe birds in a location of their choosing for 15 minutes or more at least once, and identify and count all of the birds they encounter in that interval. People can report their findingsand share any photosvia the eBird or Merlin Bird ID apps, which are available for iOS and Android smartphones. Participants of all skill levels are welcome."
"There are lots of excellent tools for bird identification and appreciation out there. (If you really want to nerd out, check out the Cornell lab's new phylogeny explorer, which allows you to delve into the entire family tree of birds.) Or you could go old-schoolforgo the gadgets and record your observations with pen and paper in the field, then enter your data into eBird afterward."
The Great Backyard Bird Count runs February 13–16 and is organized by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the National Audubon Society, and Birds Canada. The four-day event takes stock of global bird populations before migration begins in March. Participants should observe birds for at least 15 minutes, identify and count every bird seen, and report findings via eBird or the Merlin Bird ID app. Participants of all skill levels are welcome; the Merlin app can assist with visual or audio identification. Observations can be recorded on paper and entered into eBird later. The Cornell Lab also provides a phylogeny explorer to examine the bird family tree.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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