Citizen Science Projects to Help Birds

If you love birds, then you are likely looking for ways to help birds thrive! Citizen science is a great way to help improve our understanding of birds.

Participating in citizen science projects help scientists determine several important data points that contribute to complex understanding of populations numbers, dispersion, migratory habits, and many other fascinating details. 

Helping birds is as easy as submitting your annual nest box data to Project Nestwatch, sharing your birding observations to E-Bird, or participating in a bird count.

There are many ways to help contribute your citizen science data. Anyone - including children, families, individuals, classrooms, retired persons, youth groups - can participate. Best of all it is free and helps you to connect to the wider community of bird-lovers.

Here is a list of great projects to consider getting involved with:

• E-Bird

• Project Nestwatch

• The Great Backyard Bird Count

• Birds Canada - Listing of Christmas Bird Counts and contact information

• Global Big Day

• Global Bird Weekend (in October)

• Project Feederwatch 

Let us know your favourite projects in the comments below. Did we miss any?