Media contact in U.S.: David Bonter, (607) 254-2457, email
Media contact in Canada: Kerrie Wilcox, (519) 586-3531, email

Photos available to the media to accompany this press release (click photo for high resolution version):

Mourning Dove by David Smith	American Goldfinches by Leora Worthington

20 Years of Bird Observations Reveal Changes in the Southwest
Participants aid scientists by counting feeder birds

Ithaca, NY—Twenty years is a long time for a songbird. In fact, the birds at your feeders have passed through several generations in the last 20 years. During that same time, the Southwest has seen rapid development and increases in human populations. Bird watchers across the region have helped chart changes in the numbers of feeder birds by participating in Project FeederWatch, a volunteer-based project operated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Anyone can contribute observations of birds seen at feeders during the winter months. Combined with reports from across the region, the information submitted by participants can help reveal trends in bird populations.

FeederWatchers help to document changes in the abundance and distribution of birds by simply watching and counting the birds at their own feeders. Each season brings new information about bird populations. For example, data from FeederWatchers in the region reveal that three species, Lesser Goldfinch, Mourning Dove, and White-winged Dove, are becoming far more common. Goldfinch counts have nearly doubled in recent years, while 20% more sites reported Mourning Doves last winter than just a decade ago. Both of these species are native to the region and the cause of recent population increases remains unknown. The core of the White-winged Dove’s range, on the other hand, is in Mexico. This species has been expanding its range in the Southwest and along the Gulf Coast—reports will likely continue to increase as this species becomes one of the most common birds at feeders in the region.

On the down side, Steller’s Jays are becoming harder to find in the Southwest. Formerly one of the Top 15 most common feeder birds in the region, Steller’s Jays dropped to their poorest ranking last season (#30) since FeederWatch began in 1987. Although the exact causes of this decline remain a mystery, the counts submitted by participants are critical for helping scientists detect trends in bird populations and identify those species in need of additional research attention.

What will the coming winter bring to bird feeders? You can help document changes in bird populations. The 21st season of Project FeederWatch gets underway in November and runs through early April 2008. Anyone in the United States and Canada can participate, and people of all ages and skill levels are welcome. To learn more about Project FeederWatch or to register, visit www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In return for the $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) new participants receive the FeederWatcher’s Handbook, an identification poster of the most common feeder birds, a calendar, complete instructions, and the publication Winter Bird Highlights, featuring project results.

“FeederWatchers across the southwestern U.S. have helped create the world’s largest database of feeder-bird populations,” says ornithologist and project leader David Bonter. “To understand the effects of global climate change, habitat change, and other factors on birds, we need new and veteran participants to let us know what they are seeing in their own yards and neighborhoods.”

Note: The Southwest region for Project FeederWatch includes Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

Top 10 birds reported by FeederWatchers in the Southwest in 2007:

• House Finch
• Dark-eyed Junco
• House Sparrow
• Northern Flicker
• Mourning Dove
• American Robin
• American Goldfinch
• White-crowned Sparrow
• European Starling
• Lesser Goldfinch

Note: Local participants for stories are available upon request. Contact David Bonter at   (607) 254-2457 or by email.

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The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a nonprofit membership institution interpreting and conserving the earth’s biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.