Do you like counting birds? Or identifying bumblebees? Are you interested in analyzing images of galaxies from the comfort of your home?
All these things – and much more – are part of community science projects happening throughout the United States. Community science, often called “citizen science”, is a research model that links members of the public, like you and me, with scientists to collect data and make observations. These projects cover hundreds of topics and are a great way to get involved in the scientific process and help the natural world!
Over 10 years ago, I attended my first Christmas Bird Count in Lincoln. Though I didn’t know it at the time, I joined one of the most famous and long-term community science projects in the world. The Christmas Bird Count has been running for over 120 years across North America. It started in 1900 to replace a holiday tradition known as “side hunt,” where sportsmen would compete to see who could shoot the most birds. An early National Audubon Society officer, Frank M. Chapman, proposed to instead have people count the birds around Christmastime. What started with 27 birders in 1900 has grown to over 85,000 volunteers across the United States and Canada. The event has continued for over a century!
Each year, beginner birders and experienced ornithologists alike get together on one day around the holiday season. Counters are assigned to a certain area, such as a park, hiking trail, or bird feeder, and count every bird they see or hear. The National Audubon Society compiles all the observations into a massive database to track climate change impact, population trends, migration patterns, and much more.
Anyone is welcome to join the Christmas Bird Count, even if you’re a beginner! I started as a college student, dragging my completely uninterested father through parks across Lincoln. Over the years, my ID skills have improved, and I even started compiling data for the Omaha Count Circle with Bob Wells. My once-begrudging dad now looks forward to spending a morning together in the (often) freezing weather. It’s become a tradition in my family, and I’m one of thousands who have made it a tradition during their holiday season.
This year, the Omaha Christmas Bird Count is taking place on Saturday, December 19. If you’re interested in participating, please reach out to Hannah Miller at hmiller@fontenelleforest.org. Information on other community science projects can be found online through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, SciStarter.org, the Xerces Society, and many more.
We hope to see you at this year’s Christmas Bird Count!
