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 How to count your birds
The
FeederWatch counting method is designed to provide an "index
of abundance" for each bird species. To ensure that
the FeederWatch database can be used for scientific research,
every FeederWatcher must count birds in the exact same way.
Here’s how to conduct your two-day count.
| 1) |
Keep
a Tally Sheet and
a field guide handy.
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| 2) |
Each
time you see a species within your Count Site during
your Count Days, count the number of individuals
in view at one time and record that number
on your Tally Sheet. (For example, if the first time
you look at your feeder you see one Northern Cardinal
and two Blue Jays, record these numbers next to their
names.)
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| 3) |
If
later on you see more individuals of these species
in view at one time, revise your Tally Sheet to reflect
the larger number. (For example, if later on you see
two Northern Cardinals and three Blue Jays, change
the number of Northern Cardinals on your Tally Sheet
from one to two, and the number of Blue Jays from
two to three. Do not add your counts together;
record only the largest number of individuals of each
species in view at one time over the two-day count.
By following this method you will never report an
individual bird more than once per Count Period.)
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| 4) |
At
the end of your two Count Days, the largest
number of individuals that you saw at one time becomes
your final tally and the number for each
species that you will report to FeederWatch. You will
make one report for each two-day count.
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| 5) |
Record
the date, the weather, and how much time you spent
observing birds on your count days.
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Please
count...
- all of the
individuals that are in view at one time. For example,
if two House Sparrows are on your feeder and six more
are waiting their turn in a nearby bush, count all eight.
- birds
that are attracted to your Count Site because of something
you provided, either directly or indirectly. For example,
count birds that are investigating your feeder or birdbath
even if they do not eat food or take a bath.
- birds
that are attracted to fruits or ornamental plantings in
your Count Site, even if only a few individuals actually
visit your feeders. Examples might include Cedar Waxwings
and American Robins.
- hawks,
owls, and other predatory birds such as roadrunners and
shrikes that are attracted by birds at your feeders, even
if the predators are not successful in catching a meal.
But don't
count...
- birds that
simply fly over your Count Site, such as Canada Geese
or Sandhill Cranes.
- birds
that you observe outside of your chosen Count Days. If
you see a bird on a non-count day that you wish to tell
us about, you may report the sighting using the Comment
Form in Data Entry or by sending a note with your paper
data forms at the end of the season.
All Counts Are Important
FeederWatch
participants often stop counting their birds because they
believe that their counts are not important. Typically they
are seeing the same birds every week, or they are seeing
very few or no birds. Learn more about why every
count matters.
For
further information and tips on count procedures, please
review Tricky Counts and Special
Cases.
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