As spring firmly sets in across much of Canada, there’s no better time to get outside and get more familiar with the bird species in your neck of the woods. These days, there are no shortage of great online tools and apps to help you learn more about nearby birding locations, solving those tricky bird IDs, or document the birds you find.
In fall of 2018, we invited volunteers like you from across the country to participate in a study led by Dr. Lisa Nisbet at Trent University. Over 500 people completed a survey that inquired about their experiences as Citizen Scientists, their wellbeing, and their connection to the natural environment. We are happy to report some preliminary results.
In April and May, many Ontario Citizen Scientists start their spring birding by listening for and counting “peent”-ing American Woodcocks around sunset. These volunteers are part of a large U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program that monitors the American Woodcock population in eastern North America.
As the New Year began, I came across this tweet from Cool Green Science (@nature_brains): “Attention new birders: I have news for you. Winter is not the off-season.”
With the recent launch of the online book, the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Manitoba, we have reached a level of Citizen Science that many said was unattainable.
