Fwd: SYH: Citizen Science Projects that Could Use Your Help

**Lucy Bradley LBradley@sisna.com>**

>
>From: Heather Carskaddan <carskaddan@nwf.org> (by way of Lucy Bradley 
><BradleyL@ag.arizona.edu>)
>Subject: SYH: Citizen Science Projects that Could Use Your Help
>
> >From our friends at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology:
>
>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has some important research projects taking 
>place this spring.  For more information about any of the following 
>projects, please contact the Lab of Ornithology. Contact Information:
>Phone: (800) 843-2473; outside U.S. (607) 254-2473
>cornellbirds@cornell.edu  http://birds.cornell.edu
>
>Birds in Forested Landscapes: Volunteers Needed for Study of Forest 
>Fragmentation Effects on Birds
>
>      How much forest is enough to make sure the birds we know and love 
> will be around for our kids and grandkids to enjoy? The Cornell Lab of 
> Ornithology's Birds in Forested Landscapes project is working to answer 
> that question in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and 
> citizen-science volunteers from across the United States and Canada. BFL 
> examines the effects of disturbance from recreational development as well 
> as forest fragmentation on the Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks and seven 
> species of forest thrushes (Wood, Hermit, Swainson's, Bicknell's, 
> Gray-cheeked, and Varied as well as Veery) that breed throughout North 
> America. Participants select study sites in forests of various sizes, 
> then census birds on at least two visit using recordings of their songs 
> and calls. They search for indications of successful breeding and record 
> landscape and habitat characteristics about these sites. Findings from 
> this study will be used to develop conservation and management 
> recommendations for sustaining healthy populations of these species.
>
>The Birdhouse Network: Birdhouses Go to Work for Science and Conservation
>
>The Cornell Lab of Ornithology invites you to put your birdhouse 
>observations to work for science and conservation by joining The Birdhouse 
>Network. TBN participants monitor activity inside their birdhouses (also 
>called nest boxes) throughout the breeding season, collecting data such as 
>the number of eggs and nestlings in the nest. Participants submit their 
>findings to Birdhouse OnLine, the online data entry portion of the 
>Birdhouse Network web site. The data are analyzed by scientists at the 
>Cornell Lab of Ornithology and become part of a national database larger 
>than any one researcher could collect in a lifetime. The data are used to 
>help answer large-scale questions about bird populations. Information for 
>conducting the project is disseminated completely online, via the 
>project's web site. The $15 fee ($12 for Lab members) includes a full-size 
>color poster of common cavity-nesting birds, access to Nestbox-L (a 
>private e-mail discussion group), and access to Birdhouse OnLine, the 
>Internet database into which  participants enter and retrieve data.
>
>Project PigeonWatch: Pigeons "Teach" Kids How to Do Science
>
>      City streets and urban parks across the United States and Canada-and 
> beyond-are field-study sites for youths who are watching pigeons. Kids 
> develop and use their powers of observation for science by counting 
> pigeons and observing their courtship behaviors. Using an easy-to-follow 
> protocol, participants gather data on pigeon color morphs in flocks near 
> their homes, schools, and clubs. They submit their data to the Lab where 
> analyses are used to answer the question, "Why are there so many colors 
> of pigeons?" By participating, kids learn to view their local 
> environments in a whole new way, and they take pride in their abilities 
> to contribute to a professional research project. A teacher in Brooklyn, 
> New York, stated,  "The fact that a fourth-grade class could participate 
> in a national research project was just spectacular. The idea of studying 
> pigeons, a bird we see every day yet know very little about, was received 
> by the school, the school district, other teachers, and parents with 
> enthusiasm." Children's anonymous evaluations read, "Scientists are 
> exactly the same as us," and, "I thought it was really fun and a great 
> learning experience." Sign up your classroom, youth group, or bird club 
> youth today! The $15 fee provides an Instruction Booklet, a Reference 
> Guide, pigeon posters, and more.
>
>(Due to the Golden-winged Warbler's limited range, this project may not 
>apply to your region.)
>Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project: Creating An Index for Conservation
>
>      The Golden-winged Warbler Atlas Project (GOWAP) is a citizen-science 
> project conducted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with 
> Ithaca College. The Golden-winged Warbler is a Neotropical migratory 
> species of high conservation concern. GOWAP is designed to determine the 
> population status and habitat and area requirements of the Golden-winged 
> Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) and the Blue-winged Warbler (V. pinus), 
> as well as their hybrids. This study engages volunteer birders and 
> professional biologists who survey and conduct point counts at known and 
> potential breeding sites of Golden-winged Warblers from May through June. 
> Golden-wings tend to arrive relatively early on their breeding grounds 
> and depart very early in the fall. The appropriate dates for studying 
> these species are as follows: May 15 to June 20: Canada, Michigan, 
> Minnesota, Wisconsin, St. Lawrence River Valley; May 10 to June 15: All 
> other locations.
>_____________________________________________________________
>Want to find the best email lists? Check out the Topica 20!
>http://www.topica.com/topica20

Lucy K. Bradley
<LBradley@sisna.com>

_______________________________________________
School_garden maillist  -  School_garden@mallorn.com
https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/school_garden