Call to Action: "Citizen science rocks"

On 19 March 2009 newly-appointed U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar joined a panel of scientists and representatives from the country’s leading conservation organizations to release a comprehensive report entitled, “The State of the Birds: United States of America 2009.” This report takes a holistic look at the roles that birds play in our culture, our economy and, most importantly, as a barometer of the health of our environment. Birding listservs across the country are abuzz over this landmark report. The full report, an audio capture of the 19 March press conference, and a short video presentation can all be found at: http://www.stateofthebirds.org.

Over the course of our nation’s history, population growth and habitat loss have moved along hand in hand, depleting the total numbers of many species and resulting in the eventual extinction of several others. Faced with mounting evidence of ongoing degradation and outright loss of certain types of habitats, those of us who care so deeply about wild birds find ourselves asking, “What can I do?”

During the 19 March press conference, John Fitzpatrick, Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, provided part of the answer when he enthusiastically stated, “Citizen science rocks!” Fitzpatrick pointed out that citizen volunteers collected and submitted much of the data used in crafting the State of the Birds report. There are numerous projects that utilize volunteer efforts. Most notable and oldest among these is the Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count. Since Frank Chapman originated the idea in 1900, hundreds of thousands of bird enthusiasts have dutifully surveyed local “count circles” across the continent, producing a database of North America’s early winter avifauna. The data these birders have collected have been instrumental in evaluating the health of many species and, in some cases, have provided the first indication of serious population declines.

Other projects, such as Cornell Lab’s Project Feeder Watch and the Audubon Society’s
Great Backyard Bird Count continue this tradition by amassing our collective observations into a meaningful pool of data. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Breeding Bird Survey is somewhat more regimented. One must be willing to start their day long before sun-up to participate in this effort, but I can tell you from personal experience that it’s a great way to spend a morning or two each summer. Each BBS route is 24.5 miles in length and involves making 50 stops, one every half mile, and doing a three-minute point count at each stop. Every individual bird seen or heard is logged. These routes are run year after year, with some having been run for decades. The resulting index tells us much about what is happening within the sampled habitats by monitoring the health of local breeding populations of birds.

Doing BBS routes requires strong ear-birding skills, especially during the first 30 minutes of the route. The required start time for a BBS route is 30 minutes before official sunrise, when visibility is limited and the dawn chorus is in full swing. Regardless of your skill set, most BBS observers would welcome the company of a less experienced birder, if for no other reason than to have them keep time and record data. By the end of this intense morning, you will know more bird songs and call notes than when you started.

While the report paints a grim picture for some groups of species and several fragile ecosystems, it also points out that human efforts have effected positive outcomes for many species (see “Outfoxed Aleutians: Back in the Skein Lane” in this journal). The State of the Birds report opens with the following statement, which encapsulates the many ways in which birds touch our lives:

“Birds are a priceless part of America’s heritage.
They are beautiful, they are economically
important, and they reflect the health of our
environment. This State of the Birds report
reveals troubling declines of bird populations
during the past 40 years—a warning signal of
the failing health of our ecosystems. At the
same time, we see heartening evidence that
strategic land management and conservation
action can reverse declines of birds. This report
calls attention to the collective efforts needed
to protect nature’s resources for the benefit of
people and wildlife.” (NABCI, U.S. Committee 2009)

In the State of the Birds report we learn that “one in every four American adults is a birdwatcher” and that our activities contribute $122 billion annually to the nation’s economy (NABCI, U.S. Committee 2009). Call it birding, birdwatching, or wildlife viewing, it is a “growth sector.” No bailouts are needed. Our friends, neighbors, family members, and coworkers represent the other 75% of the nation’s adult population. Each of us should make it our personal mission to educate these folks and open their eyes and ears to the abundance of birdlife in their midst. We are most inclined to value those things we know and appreciate on a personal level.


Literature Cited:

North American Bird Conservation Initiative, U.S. Committee, 2009. The State of the Birds, United States of America, 2009. U.S. Department of Interior: Washington, DC. 36 pp.