1. Click on Data Entry. A login page will appear.
   
   
2. Enter your Login Name and Password. Note that the password is case sensitive.
   
   
3. A project sign-in screen will appear. Enter your FeederWatch ID number in the appropriate box (next to Cornell Lab of Ornithology if you are a U.S. resident or Bird Studies Canada if you live in Canada). This is the LAST TIME you will be required to enter your ID number this season. If you are asked for your ID number in a future session, that means that you inadvertently created more than one online profile. Refer to Data Entry FAQs for a solution.

Inside of Data Entry

1. The first page you will see is the Data Entry home page. Go to the "Your Count Site" page to fill out your Count Site Description Form for the new season by clicking on the "describe" link next to the Count Site you will be using. If you have multiple past sites, go to the Data Entry FAQs page to learn more. If you are counting from a new location, scroll down to the "Create a Count Site" button to register a new count site.
   
   Note: In the past the Count Site Description Form "remembered" some of the information from the previous season. Scientists became concerned that participants would forget to check the information that had been copied forward to be sure it was still accurate. To ensure the accuracy of the data, participants are now asked to fill out the entire Count Site Description form each season.
   
   
2. Before entering counts, review the counting instructions to be sure you remember the instructions correctly.
   
   
3. To enter count information, click on "Enter your bird counts" from the Data Entry home page. This section is divided into fours steps (labeled at the top of each page). On Step 1, select your Count Site and enter the first date of your two Count Days. Step 2 asks for your weather and effort data and your bird counts. Check for errors on Step 3 and click the confirm button once everything is correct. Be sure you see a "Thank You" page (Step 4) before leaving the web site to assure that your data has been successfully submitted to the FeederWatch database.
   
4. FeederWatch online data entry has a flagging system designed to help catch errors in the data entry process. The system asks participants to confirm counts determined to be unusually high based on data submitted by FeederWatch participants in each region. The system also requests confirmation for all subspecies. Learn more about the flagging system.
   
   
5. To view or edit counts from the current season or to view counts from past seasons, click on "View and manage your counts."
   
   Note: Errors made while entering data this season can be corrected by clicking on the "edit" link after the count that needs to be changed. However, the only way to change an incorrect Count Date is to delete the data for the incorrect date and then re-enter it under the correct date. So be sure to choose the correct date when entering data--the first date of your two-day count.
   
   
6. Follow the "Report rare, unusual, or sick birds" link to report any these birds seen at your feeders. Learn more about rare, sick, or unusual birds.
   
   
7. Follow the links on the right side of the Data Entry home page for answers to Frequently Asked Questions, to print a Tally Sheet (the worksheet you use to record your counts), to join the email discussion group, to send us extra notes or observations on a Comment Form, or to request technical support.
   
   
8. Update your contact information if anything changed since last season (especially your e-mail address) by following the "Your Profile" link on the Data Entry home page. Additionally, inform our membership department (email: clomembership@cornell.edu) of your changes (the online database is kept separately from the membership database).

  Getting Help

• For quick answers to common questions, check out the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
  
  
• If you are unable to resolve the problem after consulting the FAQs and you can access the Data Entry pages, follow the "Request Technical Support" link on the right side of the Data Entry home page to fill out an online request-for-help form.
  
  
• If you are unable to enter Data Entry, contact us for assistance.
  
  
• Anytime you send a request for help, we must know your full name, address, ID number (if possible), web browser, and a complete description of the problem you are having, including what you were doing and seeing on the computer screen when the problem occurred and what you have already tried. Using the online request for help form, when possible, easily provides us with most of this information.
  
  
• We have limited staff available to provide technical assistance. During peak times, we may need a week or more to respond to your message. Thank you for your patience.