Press Releases

Families Find Valuable Science Education Tool in Project FeederWatch

Cornell Lab of Ornithology engages homeschoolers across the country

September 1, 2004

September 1, 2004, Ithaca, NY - Project FeederWatch is quickly gaining momentum as a valuable component to home-schooling education, according to researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

    Project FeederWatch, a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders in North America, serves as a perfect home school activity because participants learn to make careful observations and to identify birds they observe at their feeders. The project encourages independent study and stimulates children to ask questions about the natural world. The project fits easily into a home school curriculum and provides an endless source of wonder and enjoyment for parents and children.

    FeederWatch focuses on something children are naturally interested in: birds. "Birds are colorful, they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and they are easy to watch," says David Bonter, project leader for Project FeederWatch. "Many of the species we study in Project FeederWatch remain at feeders for long periods of time, allowing kids to observe their plumage and behaviors. Watching feeders creates many opportunities for inquiry-based learning that may link math, science, art, and other disciplines. Because of these opportunities many home schooling families include Project FeederWatch as part of their learning process."

     By participating in Project FeederWatch, families become part of the world's largest science project. Known as "citizen scientists," participants periodically count the number of birds they see at their feeders from November through early April. They tally the highest number of each species seen on their count days and then send their tally results to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology over the Internet. Lab scientists use the data to track movements of winter bird populations and trends in bird distribution and abundance.

    Project FeederWatch has been collecting data from citizen scientists for 17 years. Maps and graphs in the Exploring Data section of their web site display this wealth of information gathered from past and current participants. For example, following the Top 25 link under Exploring Data will bring up the Top 25 birds seen during a given FeederWatch season for any state, province, or region. Visit the project's web site at to learn more.

    Participants receive a research kit that includes useful materials for a home schooling program. The kit includes easy-to-follow instructions and a calendar that features bird photos taken by project participants. First-time participants also receive the FeederWatch Handbook filled with information about bird feeding and what can be learned from FeederWatch data. There's no need to be an expert to participate - the kit also includes a bird identification poster with artwork by Larry McQueen. The poster allows even novice birders to successfully identify the birds at their feeders. An annual participation fee ($15, $12 for Lab of Ornithology members, $35 Canadian) covers the cost of the research kit and supports the project.

    In addition to the research kit, all participants receive a subscription to the Lab's quarterly newsletter, BirdScope, which is filled with articles about birds and bird biology. Each year the fall issue of BirdScope contains results from the previous FeederWatch season, letting participants know what scientists are learning from the data they have submitted. (Canadian participants receive BirdWatch Canada, a publication of Bird Studies Canada.)

     To sign-up for Project FeederWatch, visit the website of the office in your country or call toll free: U.S.: , (800) 843-BIRD (2473); Canada: , (888) 448-BIRD (2473).

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.