LETTER

Project FeederWatch: the birds’ story 

Information from programs like Project FeederWatch and other Citizen Science initiatives are used to improve the story for birds. You can join Project FeederWatch and keep track of the birds in your backyard – to help birds!

Project FeederWatch takes 15 minutes every few weeks, 9 November to 3 April. To provide a clearer picture of both bird and environmental health, people of all ages and experience count the birds that visit their feeders in winter to help Birds Canada and Cornell Lab of Ornithology understand how our backyard birds are doing. 

The survey has shown the good fortunes of birds such as Cooper’s Hawks. Birds of prey populations in Canada have increased 110% since the 1970s, largely because the pesticide DDT was banned.  Cooper’s Hawks have gravitated to backyards possibly for prey.  

The Northern Cardinals have also expanded their range since 1989, as demonstrated by  FeederWatchers reports.  Cardinals have benefitted from two trends – more bird feeders and more yards with shrubs and fruit-bearing trees.

However Evening Grosbeaks have experienced a range contraction and population decrease in North America.  Loss of nesting habitat and food sources may be affecting Evening Grosbeaks.

Anyone can join Project FeederWatch in Canada. Visit birdscanada.org/feederwatch, call 1-888-448-2473, or email pfw@birdscanada.org.  FeederWatchers in Canada will receive a poster of common feeder birds, a calendar, last season’s results, and access to online data tools. The quarterly magazine BirdWatch Canada is produced by Birds Canada. 

Kerrie Wilcox,  

Birds Canada

Montréal