Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Project Background
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. It was founded in 1915 as a non-profit environmental organization which maintains the website All About Birds, an online source for identification and information almost 600 species of birds. The Cornell Lab’s mission is to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. It was founded in 1915 as a non-profit environmental organization which maintains the website All About Birds, an online source for identification and information almost 600 species of birds. The Cornell Lab’s mission is to interpret and conserve the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
CS (Citizen Science) Activities with Cornell Lab of Ornithology
eBird
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird is an online database of year-round bird observations made by recreational and professional bird watchers. It provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution. ORMN volunteers count the birds they see and upload the data to the eBird site.
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird is an online database of year-round bird observations made by recreational and professional bird watchers. It provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution. ORMN volunteers count the birds they see and upload the data to the eBird site.
- Locations: Any location convenient to watching birds. As long as you report the data you collect to eBird then your volunteer hours can be counted even if the location is your own home.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in eBird may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirements: Computer and internet access for data entry. Enroll in eBird online.
- Time Commitment: Volunteers determine their level of involvement in this activity.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
NestWatch
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. The resulting database is used to study the current condition of breeding bird populations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals.
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
NestWatch is a nationwide monitoring program designed to track status and trends in the reproductive biology of birds, including when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. The resulting database is used to study the current condition of breeding bird populations and how they may be changing over time as a result of climate change, habitat degradation and loss, expansion of urban areas, and the introduction of non-native plants and animals.
- Locations: Anywhere. As long as you report the data you collect to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology then your volunteer hours can be counted even if the location is your own property.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in NestWatch may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirement: Become a certified NestWatcher on-line at NestWatch.
- Time Commitment: Visit each nest every 3-4 days during nesting season.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
Global Big Day and October Big Day
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Each year in May and October, tens of thousands of people around the world go birding on a single day and enter their records into eBird. The final tally often exceeds 7,000 species--nearly three-quarters of the world's bird species recorded in a single day. You can participate from anywhere in the world. Read more about Global Big Day and October Big Day (http:ebird.org/news/october-big-day-2022).
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Each year in May and October, tens of thousands of people around the world go birding on a single day and enter their records into eBird. The final tally often exceeds 7,000 species--nearly three-quarters of the world's bird species recorded in a single day. You can participate from anywhere in the world. Read more about Global Big Day and October Big Day (http:ebird.org/news/october-big-day-2022).
- Locations: Anywhere. As long as you report the data you collect to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, then your volunteer hours can be counted even if the location is your own property.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: May include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirement: Register in advance of the Count.
- Time Commitment: At least 10 minutes.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
Project FeederWatch
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. ORMN volunteers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send the data to Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch data help scientists track broad-scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. Data entry information is provided.
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Project FeederWatch is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. ORMN volunteers periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through early April and send the data to Project FeederWatch. Project FeederWatch data help scientists track broad-scale movements of winter bird populations and long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance. Data entry information is provided.
- Locations: Any location convenient to seeing birds which appear because of the food, water or shelter you have provided. As long as you report the data you collect to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology then your volunteer hours can be counted even if the location is your own home.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in Project FeederWatch may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings, although you may participate in this Count from inside your home.
- Special Requirement: Register with Project FeederWatch in advance of the counting season. Registration fee is $15.00, $18.00 for first time users.
- Time Commitment: Minimum of 2 consecutive days, counting as long during those days as you wish. Leave 5 days between counts. The Count lasts between early November and early April.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day bird count which requires data collection on wild birds seen and displays results in near real-time. Count the numbers and kinds of birds you see in any location.
ORMN Project Contact: Deanne Davenport - ddav09(at)yahoo.com
Launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, the Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4-day bird count which requires data collection on wild birds seen and displays results in near real-time. Count the numbers and kinds of birds you see in any location.
- Locations: Anywhere. As long as you report the data you collect to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology then your volunteer hours can be counted even if the location is your own property.
- Physical Requirements/Safety Hazards: Involvement in the Great Backyard Bird Count may include exposure to heat, cold, dampness, rain, sun, ticks, poison ivy, snakes and insect bites/stings.
- Special Requirement: Register in advance of the Count.
- Time Commitment: At least 15 minutes a day for 1-4 days. The Count is in mid-February.
Report volunteer hours and travel time on VMN-Better Impact.