How to Monitor Birds

Hermit Thrush. © Debbie McKenzie

Some of the great missing links in bird conservation are studies that examine the true impact of restoring native plants on human-influenced landscapes. The Bird Habitat Recognition Program attempts to begin the process of collecting information that may after years of compilation, indicate trends in biodiversity that result from personal actions on individual properties.

Since Audubon is keen on building a conservation community, we look to your help in getting this information. Citizen Scientists have contributed irreplaceable information for over 100 years in the annual Christmas Bird Count…information that is routinely analyzed and reported in landmark publications such as the State of the Birds. Today there is a new tool for Citizen Scientists and you don’t even have to leave your home, work, or school to contribute! It can be done as a family, a classroom, club, or committee at work.

Baselines: If you’ve never recorded birds on your property today is a great time to start! Recording information during the first year is critical because this is the data you’ll come back to and compare with each year. As you improve the conditions of your property you may pleasantly surprised to see the species list and numbers increase with each passing year (depending on capacity of property). The Audubon Pocket Backyard Birdwatch book (published in 2008) has a pull-out poster to help identify the common birds on your property. See our Good Books! section for more information.

Here are the tools you’ll need:

1. eBird (special “Yard” edition coming soon): This is our recommended tool; an online checklist where you can record your sightings daily, weekly, or whenever the mood strikes as long as you’re consistent over time. You can track your own information, keep a running list, look at the visitation trends of particular species, and of course, record NEW sightings. It only takes a few minutes and is the key tool for the Bird Habitat Recognition Program. www.ebird.org/content/pa
2. Great Backyard Bird Count: (It doesn’t have to be a backyard) This annual count over President’s Day weekend is a great event that is growing each year. It’s fun and free and we invite you to get involved (but keep your eBird account current!) www.birdsource.org/gbbc
3. Christmas Bird Count: Now that you’re officially into birds, join the more ardent group of dedicated birders on the very important (and sometimes cold) annual Christmas Bird Count (mid-December to early January). These outings return to the same areas each year and tract the populations of winter residents often uncovering a surprise or two. It’s a great way to learn about birds and contribute to REAL science.
4. In addition, there are many other Citizen Science programs run by partner organizations that include Project Feeder Watch, Breeding Bird Atlas, and Bird Banding. Check out some options at www.birds.cornell.edu and www.carnegiemnh.org/atlas/home.htm
5. Be aware of nesting behavior on your property. If you have natural cavities or nest boxes, keep an eye on them for activity. Follow the flight of birds carrying twigs, dried grass, leaves, or bits of strings to see if they land in a nearby shrub or tree.