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Citizen Science 101
Explore below to learn about citizen science and how it is used to help birds.
Explore below to learn about citizen science and how it is used to help birds.
What is citizen science?
What is citizen science?
Citizen science is a growing movement in which the general public participates in scientific research, usually by collecting and/or analyzing data. 4,12
For example, citizen science participants may use an app to log data about when and where they saw a certain plant or animal species. Or they may identify objects or activities in photos from satellites or motion-activated camera traps.
The types of citizen science projects are diverse, spanning fields such as astronomy, history, medicine, and zoology to name just a few.4,18
What does citizen science aim to achieve?
What does citizen science aim to achieve?
There are many types of citizen science projects, and each has a specific goal.
Some projects seek to answer a particular scientific question.4
For example, "How are giraffe populations in Kenya changing over time?"
Other projects seek to gather data to inform and influence public health or conservation policy.4
For example, "How is commercial development impacting the nesting behavior of the snowy plover, an endanged bird species?"
Why should you consider becoming a citizen scientist?
Why should you consider becoming a citizen scientist?
Citizen science has numerous benefits for participants, including:4,12
Increased knowledge about a topic
Opportunities to socialize
A sense of belonging in your community
Getting outside and enjoying nature
A sense of accomplishment and pride, knowing you contributed to an important project
A sense of empowerment, knowing you can make an impact and influence policy in your community
How can you help our feathered friends through citizen science?
How can you help our feathered friends through citizen science?
By providing citizen science data about birds in your community, you help researchers to understand if particular bird species are struggling and where/how/when scientists can best intervene to help them.8
You can take part in helping our feathered friends by partcipating in a bird count.
Bird Counts
Bird Counts
One of the oldest types of citizen science projects are bird counts.9
The Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count started in 1900 and is still active today.9
Bird counts basically entail documenting all the bird species and number of individuals observed in an area.
Bird Counts and Conservation
Bird Counts and Conservation
Birds can serve as indicators of changes to the environment such as climate change, habitat modification, and disease prevalence.5
Bird counts track the quantity of birds of each species in a particular area and can help determine migration patterns by revealing when and where the birds are located.5,17
All of this can inform scientists of declines and changes and can help in decision-making about conserving threatened and endangered species.8
Technology and Bird Counts
Technology and Bird Counts
In the past, bird counts were carried out with pen and paper and physical maps.
Now, technological advances are making bird counts faster and more accessible to anyone who is interested.9
Through the use of smartphone apps and web platforms, bird counters can quickly and easily log their sightings.6
These apps use the GPS in your phone to record the location of the sighting– you just have to ID the bird! (Easier said than done, but there are apps to help you with that too!)
Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University offers several tools and projects that allow citizen scientists to contribute to bird counts6:
4 day global bird count in February
Provides snapshot of bird populations
November-April in US and Canada
Track distribution of birds using feeders
Log your bird sightings anytime, anywhere
Convenient app for submitting data
Helps you ID birds in the field
ID birds through photos and/or sound recordings
Bird Counts in Orange County
Bird Counts in Orange County
Sea & Sage Audubon Society, our local Audubon chapter, hosts birding field trips, classes, and community bird counts.1.4
Anyone is welcome to participate!
Participants can contribute to our local bird knowledge by submitting their sightings to the OC Audubon Society through the eBird app.15
Check out the Resources page if you would like to get involved!
Now that you know the ins and outs of citizen science, continue reading to learn about how bird count citizen scientists are helping researchers to track one of Orange County's migratory visitors, the Rufous Hummingbird.
Now that you know the ins and outs of citizen science, continue reading to learn about how bird count citizen scientists are helping researchers to track one of Orange County's migratory visitors, the Rufous Hummingbird.
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