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06 February 2004

Citizen Scientists and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Tim Davis sends notice about the vital role played by citizen scientists in the Birdhouse Network of Cornell Lab of Ornithology (The Birdhouse Network: What is Citizen Science?)

The Birdhouse Network is composed of people who volunteer some of their time during spring and summer to observe and maintain bird houses and report their observations to the Lab of Ornithology.

The Birdhouse Network is but one of several major bird monitoring programs conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Dr. Jack Deetjen, an orthopedic surgeon, installs a wood duck nesting box adjacent to Geronimo Creek in South Texas. Forrest M. Mims III. Click image to enlarge.

The House Finch Disease Survey tracks the incidence of an eye disease in the house finch.

Project Feederwatch studies the distribution of various birds during winter by analyzing visits by specific species to feeders between November and April. More than 16,000 citizen scientists participate in Project Feederwatch.

eBird is a continuous, ongoing Internet survey of North American birds.

Birds in Forested Landscapes (BFL) is a study in which participants make tape recordings of birds singing. The objective is to determine how well birds are coping with fragmented forests.

Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP) focuses in on identifying the population of golden-winged and blue-winged warblers.

Project PigeonWatch is designed for citizen scientists who want to help professional ornithologists determine why pigeons come in so many colors.

Great Backyard Bird Count is a twist on the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count Audubon Science - Christmas Bird Count, which recently completed its 104th count. Participants in this four-day survey can send in their results over the Internet.

Urban Bird Studies Project is designed for citizens who want to help unravel the secrets of how some wild birds survive so well in busy cities.

Cornell says this about the thousands of participants in its various bird studies: "From backyards and city streets to remote forests, these people represent the world's largest research team. We call them citizen scientists."

You can help spread the word about the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's projects to friends and acquaintances who enjoy watching birds. Hopefully more amateur scientists will also participate in this fun and very useful pursuit.