Project FeederWatch & eBird
Project FeederWatch & eBird
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Project FeederWatch & eBird give scientists access to information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.
Project FeederWatch & eBird give scientists access to information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.
Goals of eBird & FeederWatch Research:
Goals of eBird & FeederWatch Research:
- Track bird populations
- Some species are endangered or at risk of extirpation (local extinction)
- Determine if birds are living in new locations now as the climate changes
- Monitor shifts in migration patterns and timelines
- Migrating birds have moved locations at the same time and on the same path for hundreds of years, but is this changing now with climate change?
Why should you care?
Why should you care?
Birds are important for your ecosystem!
Birds are important for your ecosystem!
Birds take on many roles in the ecosystem to keep it healthy and efficient:
Birds take on many roles in the ecosystem to keep it healthy and efficient:
- Eliminate carrion and roadkill (reduce disease)
- Disperse seeds
- Create shelter for other animals
- Part of the food web and food chain
- And so much more!
BIRDS ARE NATURAL SURVIVORS
BIRDS ARE NATURAL SURVIVORS
Overwintering birds are adapted to live in harsh winter conditions. Here are some changes that help the birds survive!
Overwintering birds are adapted to live in harsh winter conditions. Here are some changes that help the birds survive!
~Legs adapted to stand in snow
~Legs adapted to stand in snow
~Feathers to trap in heat
~Feathers to trap in heat
~Slowing metabolism to conserve energy
~Slowing metabolism to conserve energy
And so much more!
And so much more!
Birds are in danger!
Birds are in danger!
Climate change, pollution, and invasive species have the potential to harm millions of these birds every year!
Climate change, pollution, and invasive species have the potential to harm millions of these birds every year!
Do these issues happen in your neighborhood?
Do these issues happen in your neighborhood?
-->Yes!
-->Yes!
It's important to monitor the birds to track potential population drops or distribution shifts!
It's important to monitor the birds to track potential population drops or distribution shifts!
Did you know?
Did you know?
Bird populations across all species are down 29% now versus just 50 years ago here in North America. That's almost one-third of the amount of birds have died off in just 50 years!!!
Bird populations across all species are down 29% now versus just 50 years ago here in North America. That's almost one-third of the amount of birds have died off in just 50 years!!!
Unique Location
Unique Location
Northwest Indiana is a major flyway zone for millions of migrating birds that visit every winter and spring on the Mississippi Flyway.
Northwest Indiana is a major flyway zone for millions of migrating birds that visit every winter and spring on the Mississippi Flyway.
You have the ability to see over 325 different species in a year in the area, both native and migrating visitors from your own neighborhood!
You have the ability to see over 325 different species in a year in the area, both native and migrating visitors from your own neighborhood!
Check out what birds have been reported in your city here!
Check out what birds have been reported in your city here!
CLIMATE CHANGE & MIGRATION
CLIMATE CHANGE & MIGRATION
As climate changes are birds migrating and overwintering in the same locations? Are all birds still migrating with warmer winter temperatures?
As climate changes are birds migrating and overwintering in the same locations? Are all birds still migrating with warmer winter temperatures?
We don't know, but data from Feederwatch will help determine the impacts of climate change.
We don't know, but data from Feederwatch will help determine the impacts of climate change.
Some birds that overwinter (spend winter) in Northwest Indiana
Some birds that overwinter (spend winter) in Northwest Indiana
Blue Jay
Red-bellied Woodpecker
House Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Some cool birds that pass through Northwest Indiana
Some cool birds that pass through Northwest Indiana
Snowy Owl
King Eider
Brown Pelican
Anna's Hummingbird
Who Runs eBird?
Who Runs eBird?
eBird & Project FeederWatch are managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York as part of Cornell University.
eBird & Project FeederWatch are managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York as part of Cornell University.
This department of Cornell University now runs the world's largest biodiversity-related science project with people submitting over 100 million bird sightings each year!
This department of Cornell University now runs the world's largest biodiversity-related science project with people submitting over 100 million bird sightings each year!
Scientists and professors here overseeing and sharing the data with other research partners all around the world.
Scientists and professors here overseeing and sharing the data with other research partners all around the world.
How is my data used?
How is my data used?
The ornithologists (bird scientists) use data collected by the community to track bird distribution, migration patterns, abnormalities, population, habitat use, and trends.
The ornithologists (bird scientists) use data collected by the community to track bird distribution, migration patterns, abnormalities, population, habitat use, and trends.
This data is free to use and helps other scientists study birds.
This data is free to use and helps other scientists study birds.
This means the data can be used to support cases for new laws and regulations involving climate change slowing, land preservation, pollution levels, and many other topics that impact both the birds and your community!
This means the data can be used to support cases for new laws and regulations involving climate change slowing, land preservation, pollution levels, and many other topics that impact both the birds and your community!
Fast Notes
Fast Notes
- Hundreds of different species of birds can be seen in Northwest Indiana.
- Birds are important for our ecosystem, but are threatened due to habitat loss and climate change.
- Project FeederWatch & eBird tracks data showing bird populations and locations, as well as migration pattern changes.
- Project FeederWatch & eBird was founded by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York.
- eBird allows you to collect data whenever and wherever you want, without any restrictions.
- Project FeederWatch requires you to collect data two consecutive days with 5 days between data collections with data collection ending on April 29th!
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