This weekend, Friday, February 18 through Monday, February 21, is the Great Back Yard Bird Count. All science rests upon data, and this project makes you part of the data gathering team. It takes as little or as much time and effort as you wish to put into it.It doesn''t even matter if you aren't that perfect, because ordinary errors will wash out and truly bizzare sightings will be discounted if not confirmed. We're almost done here, but I like the squiggly, so follow me beyond the fold for more ...
In essence, you record the birds you see and report them over the internet. It is requested that you devote a minimum of 15 minutes on one of the 4 days to watching and recording, though you can spend as much time on as many of the four days as you feel like. If you already participate in e-Bird ( e-Bird) or Feederwatch ( Feederwatch), or both, all this means is another computerized reporting form. If you don't do those things, you might look into them, especially e-Bird. You could enter your GBBC info into E-Bird, and then do so each year from now on to generate a nice annual snapshot of bird life in your locale. This information then becomes available to researchers on everything from specific bird species to ecosystem wide changes and their effects.
More information is available HERE. Who knows, you may like playing scientist, and get involved in other such projects. Not only are there several through Cornell ( Citizen Science at Cornell) , but many locales have localized studies. For example, my wife and I monitor a specific Great Blue Heron Breeding Colony for S.F.B.B.O., giving us a purpose and impetus to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.
Who knows what you might see