Community Science Programs for Bird Conservation

Participating in these programs helps biologists track populations, map migrations, and protect habitats for birds.

Waterfowl & Ducks

  • Harvest Information Program (HIP): If you are a hunter, make sure you are HIP certified when purchasing your license.
  • Federal Duck Stamp: Even if you don’t hunt, purchasing a Duck Stamp directly funds the protection of waterfowl habitats.

Raptors & Migration

Check out what raptor species are being counted throughout the Americas during migration at www.HawkCount.org. 
Find a Hawkwatch Site near you. 

 

Hummingbirds & Urban Safety

  • Global Bird Rescue (FLAP Canada): During peak migration, use the Global Bird Collision Mapper to report birds (including hummingbirds) impacted by glass collisions.
  • Journey North: Report your first hummingbird sightings of the season to track their northward journey.
  • Operation RubyThroat: Help gather specific data on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird across the Americas.

Swallows & Nesting

  • NestWatch (Cornell Lab): Report data on Barn Swallow nests, including egg counts and fledging success.
  • eBird: Log sightings of swallows and other species year-round.
  • NatureCounts (Canada): A platform for Canadian residents to join or create community science projects.
  • EURING Swallow Project (Europe & Africa): Contributes to banding data to study migration between continents.

Shorebirds & Waterbirds

  • American Oystercatcher Working Group: If you spot a banded oystercatcher, record the alphanumeric code and submit it.
  • BirdsCaribbean: Participate in the annual Caribbean Waterbird Census (CWC) to help protect migratory shorebirds.
  • The Ocean Cleanup: Combat plastic pollution by participating in cleanups and using their survey tools to identify polluted waterways.
  • International Waterbird Census (IWC): A global effort to monitor waterbirds in all types of wetlands, from marshes to sewage treatment plants.

Regional Mapping

  • Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP2): A massive effort to map bird distribution across South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, eSwatini, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.

Additional Community Science Programs

Beyond the programs mentioned above, these initiatives allow the general public to contribute directly to bird conservation:

  • Christmas Bird Count (Audubon): The world’s longest-running wildlife census. Held annually between December 14 and January 5, it provides critical long-term data on early-winter bird populations.
  • Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC): A four-day global event in February where people of all skill levels count birds for as little as 15 minutes to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations.
  • Project FeederWatch: A winter-long (November–April) survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, schools, and community centers in North America.
  • Hummingbirds at Home (Audubon): This program focuses specifically on how climate change is affecting the timing of nectar blooming and hummingbird arrival.
  • Climate Watch (Audubon): Volunteers help scientists document how North American birds are responding to climate change by conducting counts for specific target species (like Bluebirds and Nuthatches).

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