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Count birds in your backyard for science

Turn your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries

With bird populations on the decline, bird lovers across the U.S. can play an important part to help track trends.

If you have a birdfeeder in your yard, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Project FeederWatch is for you. This year’s count begins November 1 to observe and count backyard birds.

FeederWatch is a November to April survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other areas in North America.

All you need is an area from which you like to watch birds. Plus, the schedule is flexible. You can count every week or once all winter, for as much or as little time as you like.

Locally, you can kick off the Project FeederWatch season at the Burr Oak Woods Nature Center in Blue Springs, MO at an event on Saturday, November 2. The free event will introduce the project.

With each season, FeederWatch increases in importance as a unique monitoring tool for more than 100 bird species that winter in North America.

Even low numbers are important to count. Bird population sizes can vary from year to year. Downward trends for two, three, or even more years may not indicate actual population declines, but may reflect short-term weather patterns or other variations in natural food supply and abundance.

The annual participation fee is $18 and supports the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

To get started, visit feederwatch.org.

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