Project FeederWatch

Dark-eyed Junco by Mick Thompson

Project FeederWatch is a citizen science endeavor launched and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.

It’s a winter-long survey of the birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, and other locations in North America from November to early April. Data collected from Project FeederWatch helps scientists track the broad movements of winter birds and establish long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.

White Breasted Nuthatch (photo: Holly Ellerbusch)

White Breasted Nuthatch (photo: Holly Ellerbusch)

It’s easy to participate:

  1. Register with a $18 fee ($15 for Lab of Ornithology Members). Your registration fee includes a complete set of instructions, bird identification poster, and annual report. If you already use eBird, you can use the same credentials to register and submit data.
  2. You provide the feeders and seed.
  3. Count as often as every day or every week, or as infrequently as you’d like. You are the master of your own schedule.
  4. Submit your data to Project FeederWatch using eBird.

We’re looking for volunteers to conduct Project FeederWatch at Bylane Farm—if this sounds like something you would like to be involved in, please email Tait Johansson.