How a Christmas Tradition has Helped Track Billions of Vanishing Birds

Every year around Christmas time, tens of thousands of volunteer birdwatchers gather in familiar locations across the Western Hemisphere for a tradition that dates back more than a century. On select days between December 14 and January 5, volunteers with the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count take a census of every bird they see … Read more “How a Christmas Tradition has Helped Track Billions of Vanishing Birds”

Categories: Animals, Other

#BlackInNature: How Young Scientists are Pushing for Equality

Deja Perkins loved animals growing up. And by the time she left her native Chicago to attend Tuskegee University in Alabama, she wanted to become a veterinarian, often the only animal-related career introduced to people of color, she says. But it didn’t take long before Perkins realized she’d rather study animals in the natural world. … Read more “#BlackInNature: How Young Scientists are Pushing for Equality”

Categories: Birds, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors, Other

Climate Watch Program

Help Audubon Protect Threatened Birds by Participating in the Climate Watch Program

Audubon’s Climate Watch Program needs volunteers to help it spot 12 birds threatened by climate change. Are you in? “Hope is the thing with feathers/ That perches in the soul,” Emily Dickinson wrote. Is there hope for our feathered friends in the era of climate change? Yes, but they need our help. More than 300 … Read more “Help Audubon Protect Threatened Birds by Participating in the Climate Watch Program”

Categories: Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, EarthSchool, Environment, Project Profile

Audubon’s Adopt A Bird

Is your friend or family member an ornithologist, a conservationist, or a general appreciator of the environment? How about a Baltimore Orioles or Philadelphia Eagles fan?  Stanford Cardinal? Consider adopting a bird through Audubon’s gift program! (Orioles, eagles, and cardinals among a number of other birds are all available for adoption). For $30, through the … Read more “Audubon’s Adopt A Bird”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Ecology & Environment

Surveying Seabirds of the Puget Sound this Holiday Season.

If you’re looking for more projects for the holiday season, we’ve got 12 Days of Citizen Science for you! “On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…” birds! Partridges, turtle doves, French hens, calling birds, golden rings (pheasants), geese and swans inhabit this festival folk classic celebrating food and merriment. Seabirds, … Read more “Surveying Seabirds of the Puget Sound this Holiday Season.”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Citizen Science, Climate & Weather, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors, Ocean & Water

Christmas Bird Count takes flight

See that partridge in a pear tree? Make sure you count it for Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, one of the largest and longest running citizen science projects in existence today. It’s a 112 year tradition, with upwards of 60,000 person-days of effort and more than 60 million birds counted each year. “Each of the citizen … Read more “Christmas Bird Count takes flight”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Birds, Ecology & Environment

Citizen Science Test Drive: Apps for birding.

The first blog post in our new series titled “Citizen Science Test Drive,” (where we present first-person reviews of citizen science apps, tools and platforms) featured reviews of three nature apps by SciStarter contributor Lisa Gardner.  Today, we bring you Kate Atkins, a regular SciStarter contributor and avid birder. Here, Kate shares her list of … Read more “Citizen Science Test Drive: Apps for birding.”

Categories: Apps, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Don’t miss The Great Backyard Bird Count!

On the morning of Friday, February 17, I will wake up before work, pour myself a cup of coffee, and stare out my window for 15 minutes. As long as I submit my observations to the Great Backyard Bird Count, my 15 minutes of zone-out time before I jump in the shower will qualify as … Read more “Don’t miss The Great Backyard Bird Count!”

Categories: Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Ecology & Environment, Nature & Outdoors

Join the Christmas Bird Count Near You

If Santa had time during his busy holiday schedule, there is no doubt he would join the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, an annual event that dates back to the year 1900! That’s right: a citizen science event 110 years in the making! From December 14 to January 5 each season, volunteers follow specified routes … Read more “Join the Christmas Bird Count Near You”

Categories: Animals, Biology, Birds, Citizen Science, Nature & Outdoors

Night owls needed

Scientists all over the northeast want to know more about where native owls live and roam. By keeping mice and other small rodents in check, owls perform a critical function in suburban ecosystems. But researchers don’t yet understand why owls survive well in some suburban areas and not in others. So, all you citizen scientists … Read more “Night owls needed”

Categories: Animals, Birds, Nature & Outdoors