Reporting Banded Birds
If you happen to come across a banded bird while out on your birding adventures, you can visit this site above to see who you can contact to report your sighting. This site shares all of the information you will need to take note of concerning your banded bird so that you can accurately share details in your report. Once you report a banded bird, it may take some time, but almost all organizations will send a report or message back to you sharing information about the bird that you spotted. It is amazing to learn that you might have reported a Tern found in Brevard County that was banded many hundreds of miles away. Reporting banded birds helps scientists learn more information such as migration patterns or identifying important feeding or resting stops for different species.
Nestwatch
This website will train you to become a certified Nestwatch volunteer. You complete a training program, find active nests to monitor in your area and then report your data online. The best thing about this chocked full website is that they offer an entire page about nest boxes and nest structures. They include over 50 different bird specific nest box building plans you can download and build yourself along with information about measurements, direction to face the nest box, spacing and nest height for each one.
The Great Backyard Bird Count
In February each year, birders across the world register and join together for 4 days to count and share the species of birds they see in their area. This information is submitted daily by registered volunteers to help scientists learn about the distribution and numbers of birds across the world. To participate, all you need to do is create a free online account through their website.
eBird
eBird is an absolutely critical data collection site and unbelievable tool for birders across the world. Birders create a free account and then input numbers and types of bird species they spotted along with the location, time, any specific information notes, photos and date. That information is uploaded and shared in real time to other birders on the site as well as a huge network made up of scientists, educators, land managers and many others. It is one of the largest bird data resources in the world. eBird is marvelous for keeping trip reports, sharing reports with others, reading up to date birding news, seeing what others have spotted at top locations around the world as well as tracking who the top listers are by regions.
Project Feederwatch
This site is wonderful for those birders who want to share information about the birds they see in their backyard. You install a feeder in your yard, keep a record of the birds that come to your feeder and then enter your data into their online database. This program starts the second Saturday of November and runs for 21 weeks.
Audubon Christmas Bird Count
The Christmas Bird Count is the nation’s longest-running citizen science bird project. This year will be Audubon’s 117th Christmas Bird Count. All bird counts are done between December 14 and January 5 each year. Each count occurs in a well established 15-mile wide circle and is organized by a count compiler or leader. You then count every single bird you see or hear in that perimeter. This is a great opportunity for a beginning birder to be paired up in a group with others to help with the bird count. The Christmas Bird Count occurs in various locations throughout Brevard County and the country. There is the South Brevard County count, the Cocoa Count and the Merritt Island Count. This website shares information about the history of the count, count results and a map of all the count locations in North America. Space Coast Audubon actively participates in the Christmas Bird Count every year so watch on our website for news about signing up to be a volunteer.