Who do I contact for help with data entry?

Please read the FAQ's on this page before requesting help. If you don't find an answer here, 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 cannot enter Data Entry, send email to pfwonline@cornell.edu (in the U.S.) or pfw@bsc-eoc.org (in Canada) for assistance.

Anytime you request help, we need your full name, ID number, web browser and version, operating system, 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. Using the online technical support request form automatically provides us with most of this information.

Please note that we have limited staff available to provide technical assistance. Therefore, during peak times, we may need a week or more to respond to your message.

Because our databases are independent (to protect your privacy), you need to update your address in three different places:

• Update your online profile by clicking on the "Edit Your Profile" link on the Data Entry home page.
• Tell the membership department so that your newsletter will be sent to the correct address. In the U.S. send e-mail to: clomembership@cornell.edu. In Canada send email to: pfw@bsc-eoc.org.
• If you are subscribed to PFW-L ( FeederWatch's email discussion group) and/or PFWNews-L (FeederWatch's electronic newsletter), you will need to unsubscribe your old address and then subscribe your new address to each list. To change your email address for PFW-L, follow the "Email discussion list" link on the right side of the Data Entry home page. To change your email address for PFWNews-L, follow the "Electronic Newsletter" link on the left side of our home page.

Logging onto Data Entry

Please review the instructions for logging into Data Entry. Access to Data Entry is restricted to registered FeederWatch participants. Click here to sign up (or click on the Join/Renew button on our home page).

After I log in, I loop back to a blank login page. Why can't I log in?

If you are caught in a loop and can't get past the login page, then your firewall or your web browser is preventing you from entering Data Entry. This problem sometimes occurs if software on your computer is blocking traffic to or from our site or preventing us from putting a cookie on your machine. See the browser and computer configuration section below for assistance and read our browser configuration instructions to be sure that the security settings on your browser are compatible with our web site.

If you leave this option selected, you will bypass the login page when you enter Data Entry on subsequent visits during the current season. This is true, however, only if you do not log out between sessions (see the next FAQ about logging out). If you choose to log out after a session, you will be prompted for your password the next time you enter the site, even if you clicked on "remember my password" before exiting your browser.

You do not have to log when you finish submitting FeederWatch data, but doing so will prevent anyone else who might use the same computer from accessing the server in your name. We highly recommend that you log out if you are using a public computer, such as one in a library. You can log out of the server by clicking the "Log Out" link on the Data Entry home page and at the top of other pages inside of Data Entry. If you unchecked "Remember my password" when you logged in, you will automatically be logged out if you exit your browser. 

Please note that if you choose to log out after a session, this will automatically clear the "Remember my password" box, and you will be prompted for your password on your next visit to the site.

Why is my ID number attached to a different profile?

At some point this season, you entered your ID number on the Project Sign-In page, attaching that number to a login name and password. More recently when returning to Data Entry, rather than use the login name and password that you attached to your ID number, you either used a different login name and password that you had created in the past or you created a new profile with a new login name and password.

If you are stuck on the ID number screen and you have already successfully entered data this season, click on the "Log Out" link at the top of the Project Sign-In page (where you are being asked to enter an ID number). This will return you to the Project FeederWatch home page. Click on the Data Entry button again. Then on the login page, type in your original login name and password (without clicking on the "Create your online profile now" link).

The FeederWatch web site was programmed to work with the most widely available web browsers (listed below). We recommend that you download a newer browser whenever possible.

• IE 5.5+ (download)
• Firefox 0.8+ (download)
• Safari 1.2.4+ (Macs only, download)
• Netscape 7.1+ (download)
• Mozilla 1.4+ (download)
• Opera 7+ (download)

Review our browser configuration instructions to be sure your browsers settings are compatible with our web site. Each web browser functions slightly differently on different computers, so you may encounter problems that are unique to your computer configuration. Please contact us if you encounter browser problems.

To find which web browser you use, go to the main menu bar of your web browser and select the HELP menu option. Then scroll down to "About." On a Mac, the "About" link is under the Internet Explorer or Netscape pull down or under the apple. This link calls up a window that describes your browser, including the browser name (e.g., Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer) and its version number (e.g., Netscape 4.7). When writing for assistance, please give our staff the exact version number that appears in the "About" window, for example, Netscape 4.01 or 4.7. It is not sufficient to say 'Netscape 4.'

A cookie is a tiny file placed on your computer by our web site to allow you to move between web pages inside of Data Entry without having to login each time. We place ONE cookie on your computer that holds your FeederWatch ID number, which is how we protect your data submissions and identify you as a registered participant. When you enter Data Entry or change pages within Data Entry, our application looks at the cookie on your machine to authenticate the session.

How do I use Data Entry with a firewall?

Because the FeederWatch Data Entry system needs to place a cookie on your machine (see question above), security software, such as a firewall, on your computer or through your internet provider, can prevent online Data Entry from working properly. To determine if a firewall or other software is causing a problem for you, try disabling the software and entering Data Entry again. If you conclude that the software was blocking your access, you can resolve the problem by programming the security software to accept a transfer of information to and from the FeederWatch web site by designating the following addresses as safe:

http://watch.birds.cornell.edu
https://watch.birds.cornell.edu

To plot your site on the map using the mapping tool, type in your street address, city or town, state or province, and zip or postal code. A map will come up showing your location.

If the location is correct, press "Select this location" to name your site.

If the location mark is in the wrong place, use the mapping tools to move the mark to the correct location:

• Click on the map in the correct location, and the marker will move to where you click.
• Use your mouse or the directional arrows to pan left, right, up and down to see areas that are hidden offscreen.
• Use the slider to zoom in and zoom out (selecting bars closer to the "-" will zoom the map out, closer to the "+" will zoom the map in).
• Click "Satellite" at the top right corner of the map to see aerial images of your location. You can also choose the hybrid view, which superimposes map data–including streets, street names, and landmarks–over satellite images.

Alternatively, you can start with the map and navigate to your location by entering a town or zip/postal code on the right hand side of the Create Your Count Site screen. This option is especially useful if your site is located in a remote area.

If your browser does not work with Google maps, the mapping software we use, then you must use the address option. You will see an error message indicating that your browser is incompatible with Google maps, and then your site will automatically be plotted at your street address. You will be asked to confirm the address and to name your site.

Where is the Count Site I used last season ?

If you submitted data to Project FeederWatch in past seasons, either online or on paper forms, then there should be at least one Count Site listed on the Your Count Site page. Project FeederWatch data are most valuable if you use the same site over multiple seasons. If you are counting from the same location as last season but can't find your count site on the list, please contact us.

Participants who entered data on paper forms in past years will see a Count Site labeled with the zip/postal code of that site. Participants who plotted their site on a map will see the name of the site they plotted. If they plotted different sites, all of them will show up. In many cases all of the sites are really the same location, but at this time we have no way to combine the sites. In order to keep your data connected over time, please use the site created most recently if you are counting from the same location. The Your Count Site page displays the year that any site was most recently used.

How can I rename, move, merge, or delete Count Sites?

At this time there is no way to move, merge, rename or delete a Count Site. We may be able to offer these tools in the future, but not at this time. For now, please continue to use the site that you have used most recently.

Why does it say "Incomplete" next to my Count Site?

The "Incomplete" on the Your Count Site page indicates that your Count Site Description Form still needs to be completed. The Count Site Description Form can be tricky. Every item needs to have an answer, including each item on the list of plants. Also, an answer has to be marked for each yes/no question. Try combing through the form again. If you still can't find what is missing, let us know, and we will take a look for you. Rest assured that even if this form is incomplete, all of your data are still in the database.

Note: Returning participants will notice that data from previous seasons is no longer carried forward on the Count Site Description form. Scientists were concerned that data from the form may change from one year to the next and wanted to be sure that participants check each item each year. Consequently, the form now needs to be filled out completely each season.

You can find the elevation of your Count Site by referring to a topographic map found at a library or university map room, or you can find your elevation online at www.earthtools.org:

• Click on “Find Elevation/Height Above Sea Level.”
• Choose your country from the drop-down box.
• Click on the “Places” tab and enter the city and state or province of your Count Site into the search box. If you live in a small town, enter a nearby city instead.
• Choose your city from the list. If your city does not show up, search again using a bigger city nearby.
• If the elevation of your Count Site is different from the elevation of the city you chose, use the map to navigate to your exact Count Site. Make sure the “+” at the center of the map is lined up over your Count Site.
• Click the “height” tab to find the elevation of your Count Site in meters or feet.

You may leave this question blank. Please note, however, that the Your Count Site page and the View and Manage Your Counts page will indicate that your Count Site Description Form is incomplete. You may safely ignore this message and be assured that we received the rest of your data.

See the FeederWatching instructions for a full explanation about how to select your Count Days. In short, if you enter data online, you may count your birds every week. Just make sure that you leave five days when you don't count birds between your two-day counts (you may decide to count every Saturday and Sunday, for example).

Select your FeederWatch Count Days in advance and try your best to stick with them. Don’t change your Count Days just because you see remarkable numbers or kinds of birds. Doing so would bias your data.

How can I edit my counts?

If you discover that you have entered a count or weather or effort data incorrectly, you can edit the data by going to the View and Manage Your Counts page and clicking on the "edit" link next to the count you want to change. You can only edit counts from the current season. At the present time we have no way to edit data from past seasons; however, we are keeping track of errors found and will make the changes once an editing tool has been developed. If you notice an error in any of your data from past seasons, please let us know.

How can I change a Count Day after I have already entered it?

If you mistakenly choose the wrong date when you enter your data, the only way to correct the date is to delete the count for the wrong date and re-enter it under the correct date. To do this, click on the "View and manage your counts" link from the Data Entry home page. If you do not have a paper copy of the data for the incorrect count date, then follow the "view" link next to the incorrect count and print the summary. Next return to the View and manage your counts page and follow the "delete" link next to the count date you need to delete. Once the count is deleted, you can re-enter it under the correct date.

If you forget to record the weather conditions for a particular date or need to determine the high and low temperatures for the daylight hours, you can find historical weather information here: http://www.wunderground.com/

• Enter your city and state or zip code at the top of the page to find your location.
• In the "Current Conditions" section, click on the link that says, "Weather History for This Location" to find the high and low temperatures for a specific date.
• Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find "Tabular Data," which provides specific weather statistics broken down into five minute increments for that date.

The bird species on your regional checklist are the most widely reported feeder birds in your FeederWatch region, according to a decade of FeederWatch results. In the interest of keeping the lists a manageable size for most FeederWatchers, we do not include every bird that may occur in your region in winter. You can add a species to your checklist by following the link at the bottom of your checklist. Each time you report counts for a species that you added to your list, you will receive a message indicating an unusually high count for this species. See the high counts FAQ below to learn more.

Taxonomic order is an arrangement of species that reflects their evolutionary relatedness to one another. Simply put, "like" species (such as finches) can be found in "like" groups. Many field guides are arranged this way. Over time, you might learn species relatedness by leaving your checklist species in taxonomic order.

When I enter my count, why do I get a message saying that the count is too high?

The warning message about a high count is designed to help ensure that you have entered the count you intended to enter. The programming that generates the message is based on counts submitted by FeederWatchers in your region. Entering a higher than normal count or entering a count for a species not on your region's count list can generate the message.

There is no need to worry about the messages so long as you are accurately entering the maximum number of a particular species seen at one time during your count. Just be sure you are not adding any counts together.

If you receive this message, be sure to scroll down to the species on your count list and click the small confirmation box to indicate that you entered the number you intended to enter. Learn what happens once a species had been "flagged."

House Finches (and to a lesser extent American Goldfinches and other species) are susceptible to House Finch disease or "mycoplasmal conjunctivitis." See the House Finch Disease Survey web site to learn more about the disease and how to diagnose it. If during a count day, you see a House Finch or an American Goldfinch that appears to have House Finch eye disease, please report the number of sick birds you see in the box provided on your checklist.

Unlike FeederWatch, the House Finch disease survey collects data on a daily basis. You may report any healthy OR sick finches that you see on NON-COUNT days by using the House Finch Disease Survey form on the House Finch Disease web site.

How do I find the species I need to add?

The search engine ignores capitalization but requires the currently accepted spelling of the species name and the accepted use of punctuation characters, including hyphens, apostrophes, etc. Do not use plural forms of names.

If you are unsure of the accepted spelling or punctuation of a species, enter only part of the species name—the part that you are sure is correct. For example, to search Eurasian Collared-Dove, enter 'dove' to find a list of doves. Do not add an "s" at the end of a species group, e.g., doves or towhees.

If a species you are searching for doesn't show up in the drop down list, it may already be on your checklist under a name you don't expect. For example, turkey is called Wild Turkey and robin is called American Robin. See next FAQ for more tips on finding the species in your checklist. If you cannot find a species on your checklist, and it is not available to add, contact the FeederWatch office in your country for assistance.

I tried to "Add a Species" to my checklist but it didn't work. I don't see the species on my checklist.

• Search your checklist carefully. Perhaps the species is buried within a sub-grouping of species, or perhaps you are looking for "Cardinal" when the species is listed alphabetically under "Northern Cardinal."
• If you are sure that the species is not in your checklist, return to the Add a Species feature. Review the instructions for how to find your species, being sure to use current species names and the accepted forms of spelling and punctuation. FeederWatch uses species names most recently accepted by the American Ornithologist's Union.
• Refresh your screen. If you still do not see the species, hit the Refresh button on your web browser to be sure the browser is displaying an updated version of the page.

A Tally Sheet can be found from the Data Entry home page or the Instructions section of our web site. Tally Sheet tip: copy the Tally Sheet text into a word processing document and then add the species that you usually see. You may need to edit the page or resize it in order to print it on your printer.

How do I report a Rare Bird?

If you see a bird that might be rare, use the Rare Bird Form found under the "Report rare, sick, or unusual birds" link on the Data Entry home page to report your observation. Provide as much detail as possible because ornithologists will need these details to confirm your record. (They cannot confirm records that just say “It matched the picture in the field guide” or “I’m sure of my identification.”) You may submit a Rare Bird Form even if you see a bird outside of your Count Days, as long as the bird was in your Count Site. Learn more about reporting Rare Birds.

Use the Sick Bird Form to report observations of birds that appear to be sick. Learn more about bird diseases and reporting sick birds.

Do NOT use this form to report birds with House Finch disease. Use the House Finch Disease Survey form instead.

What is the Unusual Bird Form?

Use the Unusual Bird Form to report your observations of birds unusual plumages or bill deformities. Learn more about reporting unusual birds.

Scientists are conducting formal studies of House Finch disease, or mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, in House Finches and other species. Visit the House Finch Disease Survey web site to report your daily observations of healthy OR sick House Finches, American Goldfinches, or other birds who are susceptible to the House Finch eye disease.

An active FeederWatcher is one who submits bird counts to FeederWatch using either paper forms or online forms. While over 15,000 people participate in FeederWatch, roughly 65% actually send us their bird counts. Our maps reflect the distribution and abundance of the birds reported by active FeederWatchers. Imagine what the maps could tell us if 100% of people sent us their data!

Why can't I find my site on the map of FeederWatch sites?

Sites appear on the site map only after data has been submitted for that particular site to the FeederWatch database.

If your site is plotted on the map based on your zip code (as it would be for participants who submitted data on paper forms in the past and who are using the same site for their online data submissions), then your site will appear approximately in the center of the area covered by your zip/postal code.

If you used latitude and longitude to plot your site in a past season, it may have been plotted in the wrong location if you used degrees, minutes, and seconds (the FeederWatch site uses decimal degrees) or if you forgot to put a negative sign in front of the longitude.

Where are my historical data?

Any data you have submitted to Project FeederWatch, either through our web site or on paper data forms, should be available to you for review from the Personal Summary page inside of Explore Data. However, there are several possible reasons why one or more past seasons are missing from your historical data.

• Some of your data were submitted on paper data forms and something happened to the forms making them unscannable. Less than 1% of data cannot be scanned because of data forms being destroyed in the mail.
  
• Your ID number was entered or coded incorrectly on a paper data form. If this happened, your data are in our database, but under the wrong ID number.
  
• Your ID number was changed. If you are entering data with a different ID number than you have used in the past, please contact us so that the numbers can be merged. You should only ever have one ID number from the Lab of Ornithology or from Bird Studies Canada.
  
• Paper data forms sent in after June 1 are not scanned until after the following season. Consequently, data from these forms are not available online until then.