Project FeederWatch Begins in November
Project FeederWatch, the popular citizen-science project, is entering its 18th season. More than 10,000 participants across North America have made Project FeederWatch part of their winter ritual. FeederWatch participants track birds at their feeders from November through early April to help scientists monitor bird populations.
Last year's season turned up some surprises, including the inexorable march of an invasive species, pets gone wild, and many rare bird sightings. An invasive species, the Eurasian collared-dove, continued its astounding expansion across North America. In a few short years after being introduced in the Bahamas, this native of the Indian subcontinent has spread over nearly two-thirds of the continental United States. Flocks of monk parakeets, another non-native species, turned up in Chicago, Connecticut, Long Island, and Florida. These parakeets are among the dozens of avian immigrants that have escaped from captivity and are now successfully reproducing in the wild. Among the many rare birds reported by FeederWatchers, and orchard oriole in California drew crowds of dazzled onlookers. Other birds that wandered from normal winter homes included western tanagers in Florida and a black-throated blue warbler in Oregon. These developments and many more are detailed in the new Project FeederWatch Year in Review, which all participants receive.
The story is likely to thicken in other unexpected ways as the 2005-2006 season unfolds. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate. The project begins in November, but you can join at any time. To learn more about Project FeederWatch visit www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw.
