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SwiftWatch
May - September
A flexible solo or group activity that can take place any time from dawn till dusk. Counting Chimney Swifts is quick to learn and the birds are delightful to observe.
Forest Bird Monitoring Program
Skilled birders with strong identification skills step into the forest twice a year to document all the birds they can see and hear.
©Cerulean WarblerPhoto: Trisha Snider
Photo: Samreen Munim
The Forest Bird Monitoring Program is a long-term volunteer program that helps track bird populations in interior forests in Ontario. Because many bird monitoring programs are conducted along roadsides, they may miss species that live deeper within forest habitats.
Skilled volunteers visit a nearby forest twice each summer to conduct stationary bird counts (point counts), documenting the birds they see and hear. Participants should be able to identify most forest birds by song and call.
Learn more and participate:
- Read the survey information to learn more about what’s involved
- Register for the project on NatureCounts and the coordinator will reach out with next steps!
Participants must be able to identify most forest birds in their area by sight and sound (including calls) and must complete a short audio quiz (identifying 75% of bird species in a provided 5-minute recording) to participate in the program.
Photo: Samreen Munim
Contact Us!
Have questions about the Forest Bird Monitoring Program? Have a woodlot that could use a bird survey? Or an interesting observation to share about our target species? Send us an email!
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