This summer, we’re helping scientists track birds. Join.
If a bird isn’t in a forest and no one is there to see it’s not there, is it really not there?
That is essentially the conundrum facing the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The lab has been running for more than two decades eBird, a project that collects observations from amateur bird watchers. It’s a successful project: nearly 900,000 participants around the world have submitted around 18 million lists of what they’ve seen during their birdwatching sessions each year. And the number of lists is growing by about 20 percent per year.
That has proven to be an asset for scientists to study changes in bird populations and behavior, and “uncover complex relationships between humans and birds in ways we couldn’t before,” said Tom Auer, who leads geospatial data science. team leads at the Cornell lab.
For example, the voluminous eBird data has established how the bright lights of big cities attract migratory birds, especially young people. And cities, with their ravines of concrete and asphalt, are generally bad habitats for birds. Cornell scientists are now investigating whether the distraction leads to exhaustion and starvation, and whether fewer birds survive the migration.
But since the project relies on volunteer efforts, the data doesn’t cover all places equally. “You can imagine obvious places where there’s no data,” said Mr. Auer. “Especially because people are attracted to places where they can see the most birds.”
Neglected areas include farmland and industrial areas. The scarcity of data affects the ability to answer questions such as whether a change in agricultural practices helps or harms birds. “It helps if people can spread out and cover larger habitats,” said Mr. Auer.
For scientists, knowing where birds aren’t is just as important as knowing where they are. That can reveal declining populations, shifting habitats or changes in migration.
That’s a big question, though — a social experiment asking people to get out of their way to places less likely to spot birds.
Mr Auer also said the lab wants to recruit not only experienced bird watchers, but also those just learning how to identify different species. “Having that variety of skill levels actually improves the quality of the research we do,” he said.
The newcomers will generally be less observant and more likely to make mistakes, but many errors are discovered when Cornell reviews the data, and new observers can make a useful comparison with the more experienced observers.
“If we didn’t have novice birders to compare to expert birders, we wouldn’t really know how good the expert birders were at detecting birds,” said Mr. Auer. “We’ve done tests with our models where we remove novice bird watchers, and when we do that the models perform worse than if we included the novices.”
Our understanding of birds has been profoundly shaped by the work of ordinary people. After all, anyone can step outside and pay attention to an untamed world looming above you.
This summer, we’re inviting readers around the world to participate in a science project we’re working on with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. We will be collecting observations about the birds around us, filling data gaps and giving researchers a clearer picture of biodiversity in places less frequented by bird watchers.
It’s important work. Nearly half of all bird species worldwide are known or suspected to be in decline, and climate change could accelerate this trend. Collecting data like this helps make informed decisions about bird conservation and study.
You don’t need to be an expert or have special equipment. For beginners, we’ll be offering a series of challenges over the next few weeks aimed at getting you started contributing scientific data.
If you are an experienced birdwatcher, we have some more questions to ask. We’d like you to go beyond your usual hotspots to make observations in areas where data is scarce.
The project runs from now until September. Join us at any time and connect with a global community of readers, scientists and researchers. Share what you’ve learned. And maybe even discover a new way of looking at nature.
To get started, tell us a little about yourself below. It takes about two minutes and registration is free.
Almost there!
The next step to download Merlin or eBird, birding apps from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Click on the sentence below that best describes your birding experience, and stay tuned for an email with a complete set of instructions.
Please note that Merlin and eBird are third party apps with their own privacy policies and The Times has no control over (and is not responsible for) their content or privacy practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still be included in The New York Times project if I already use the Merlin or eBird app?
Naturally! Fill in the form above to register your participation in this project. You can continue to report your sightings through the apps as usual.
Why do I have to register with The New York Times when I send my data to the Cornell Lab?
Registering allows us to specifically connect with Times readers.
Do I need to download the Merlin or eBird app to my phone to submit my sightings?
If you’re a budding bird watcher, we recommend the Merlin app as a reference and learning resource, which also allows you to share your observations with the Cornell Lab.
If you are an experienced bird watcher, you can report your sightings via the eBird app or via the eBird website on your computer.
I have a question about Merlin or eBird, or I need extra help setting it up! Where am I going?
To see here for help with Merlin, And here for help with eBird. For additional help, submit a support ticket. Or you can email birds@nytimes.com with any further questions.
How nice that you are participating in our summer bird project! Tell us in the comments why you became interested in birdwatching. And if you’re just starting out, let us know what you need help with.