Project Feeder Watch keeps tabs on birds

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If you go to the trouble of setting up bird feeders in your backyard, why not take it an extra step on behalf of your clients?

Now that winter has arrived early, Birds Canada, which is headquartered in Port Rowan, invites feeder fans to grab a pen and paper and begin jotting down the species that drop by for a bite.

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Project Feeder Watch is a “citizen science” initiative that gives bird specialists across Canada and elsewhere insights on the relative health of bird species. Data such as this are important, Birds Canada says, as North American bird numbers are down roughly 25 per cent compared to 1970.

Participants don’t have to be expert birders and it only takes 15 minutes every few weeks. Having as many people as possible participate provides a clearer picture of both bird and environmental health.

People of all ages and experience can count the birds that visit their feeders. The information helps Birds Canada and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the United States understand how backyard birds are doing.

Information collected during Project Feeder Watch, which lasts till April 3, becomes more valuable with each passing year. The project is now into its 34^th year.

“Over its long lifetime, the survey has shown the increasing good fortunes of birds such as Cooper’s hawks,” Kerri Wilcox, Canadian co-ordinator of Project Feeder Watch, said in a news release.

“This was also reflected in the recent State of Canada’s Birds 2019 report that showed birds of prey have benefitted from action taken to improve their outcome.”

Birds of prey in Canada have increased 110 per cent since the 1970s, in part, because the pesticide DDT was banned. DDT was a problem because it had the effect of thinning egg shells. This greatly increased the breeding failure rate of a wide variety of birds.

Birds Canada suspects Cooper’s hawks are gravitating to backyards because feeders attract prey. There are also squirrels to be had.

Another species that has seen positive results is the northern cardinal.

Northern cardinals have expanded their range since 1989, as demonstrated by the growing percentage of feeder watchers reporting cardinals, especially in south-eastern Canada.

Cardinals are benefitting from two growing trends: More people with feeders and more people landscaping their yards with shrubs and fruit-bearing trees.

Conversely, Project Feeder Watch has identified areas of concern. This includes an alarming decline in evening grosbeaks.

Evening grosbeaks have experienced a range contraction and population decrease in North America. Loss of nesting habitat and food sources may be affecting grosbeaks but the precise cause of the decline is not known at this time.

“To have thousands of people across the country spend 15 minutes every few weeks looking at their feeders not only helps us answer questions and create a picture of how our resident winter-feeder birds are doing, but it’s also a lot of fun,” says Wilcox.

Anyone can join Project FeederWatch in Canada by making a donation of any amount to Birds Canada.

For more information, visit birdscanada.org/feederwatch, call 1-888-448-2473, or email pfw@birdscanada.org.

Bird Studies Canada recently changed its operating name to Birds Canada to better reflect its work beyond the study of birds.

This includes public engagement, habitat stewardship, education and training, and providing input on conservation decisions.

Birds Canada maintains a presence on the internet at birdscanada.org. It is Canada’s leading charitable organization dedicated to bird science and conservation.

MSonnenberg@postmedia.com