Project FeederWatch
A national program sponsored jointly by Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
by Leigh Ashbrook
Fledgling scientists right inside your window!
Saving our future generations from nature-deficit disorder has become a top priority for many of us, especially now that scientific evidence suggests that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the lifestyle choices we make and the health of our environment.
So how does one go about banishing said deficit from our children and fostering an understanding and respect for the natural world? Stimulating children’s intellectual curiosity through hands-on activities in nature is a route proven to be highly successful toward achieving this goal! One such experience that can work beautifully in both school and home settings is Project FeederWatch, a national program sponsored jointly by Audubon and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.
Schuylkill Center educators use this highly respected citizen science program in our teaching at the Green Woods Charter School. Project Feederwatch helps young students develop the observation and analytical skills necessary for their future success in science, technology, language arts and the fine arts, and particularly in environmental science. All that you need is a space to create a bird-feeding area and a commitment of time for watching the birds that visit your feeders.
Why learn about birds? They are easily accessible and far easier to observe up close than wild mammals. Birds are important biological indicators of environmental health and watching them can be thoroughly entertaining!
Families can learn to identify many bird species by focusing on particular field marks, listening to calls and noting specific behaviors such as flight patterns and postures of the birds when perched on feeders or on trees. Adult and young citizen scientists alike can learn to keep careful records of their sightings from each week, entering their collected data on-line to the Project FeederWatch site. At the end of the 5-month long observation time, your family can view the data on line, along with data compiled by thousands of other citizen scientists across North America. What a wonderful opportunity for a family activity based on learning about the natural world and the joy of observing beautiful local birds in their home habitats!
To find out more about Project FeederWatch, go to http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/.
Visit The Schuylkill Center’s feeders at the Widener Bird Blind and just outside the Discovery Center, where you can listen to sample calls and view identification guides. This and more is available to you through our Environmental Education Department at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education.
