Participatory Science

Explore The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s participatory science (AKA citizen science) projects and share your observations to help increase our understanding of birds. Hundreds of thousands of participants have already joined this global effort for birds and their conservation. You can watch birds anywhere, from your home, bus stop, local park, or in remote woods. Your observations count! Select a project below that interests you and become a part of this growing community of bird lovers watching birds.

  • Female Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding two young in the nest
    NestWatch

    Learn how to find and monitor bird nests, plus record data on species, eggs, and young. Your observations help scientists understand how climate change, urbanization, and land-use affect breeding birds all over the world.

  • Chickadee with peanut in its beak
    Great Backyard Bird Count

    Join us for a 4-day count in February to watch, celebrate, and count birds. By participating in this participatory science project, you help us to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations from around the world.

  • Parade of people holding bird sculptures and wearing wings
    Celebrate Urban Birds

    We co-create community science projects with communities that have been historically underrepresented in birdwatching and science. Based on equity, these projects center on local culture, leadership, and wisdom.

  • Seven Tree Swallow eggs surrounded by feathers
    Nest Quest Go!

    Join our fun participatory science project and help us transcribe more than 300,000 historic nest record cards submitted to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Your dedication will help us understand the incredible lives of nesting birds.

  • Male and female Orchard Orioles on an orange that is filled with jelly
    Project FeederWatch

    Whether you have a bird feeder or not, tell us about the birds that visit your yard between November and April each year! For more than 35 years, citizen scientists have shared their observations, helping us understand bird population changes in the United States and Canada.