Every year, on the second Saturday of November, a long-running citizen science program kicks into gear. Thousands of participants join Project FeederWatch and—from the comfort of their homes—begin collecting data on the birds that visit their yards or feeder setups through the winter. There’s no driving anywhere, no donning of winter clothes, no braving bitter winds or snow. There’s just you, a window, and a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate. (The beverage is optional, of course, but why not?)

Project FeederWatch can be a great entrance to the world of birding. Maybe you’ve been following our Entryway to Birding series but have been unable to venture out on your own. Maybe the incoming colder weather is shifting your attention indoors. Or maybe you’re looking to refine your birding skills with some up-close study of some winter birds.

No matter your experience level, Project FeederWatch has something to offer you—even if you don’t have any feeders at all! This week’s Entryway to Birding blog brings you five reasons why you should join and start counting winter birds for science.

A red-breasted nuthatch perches on a feeder, sunflower seed in bill. While we’ll see white-breasted nuthatches year-round, red-breasted nuthatches only visit during fall and winter—sometimes. Last week, we talked about “irruptions” and how some bore… — A red-breasted nuthatch perches on a feeder, sunflower seed in bill. While we’ll see white-breasted nuthatches year-round, red-breasted nuthatches only visit during fall and winter—sometimes. Last week, we talked about “irruptions” and how some boreal bird species will have to travel further south in search of food. This is shaping up to be an irruptive year for red-breasted nuthatches too! *Photo by Doug Greenberg CC BY-NC*

Five Reasons To Join Project FeederWatch

Reason #1. You’ll learn to master the trickiest of backyard bird IDs.

There are some birds that can trip up even the most experienced of birders with their near-look-alikes. Have you ever struggled distinguishing between a downy and a hairy woodpecker? Or a Cooper’s and a sharp-shinned hawk? Or a house finch and a purple finch?

If so, you’re not alone. These birds can be tricky to identify even in the best conditions, especially if you aren’t able to get really good, close looks at them. I know that when I encounter many of these tricky birds while birding in the field, my views are often limited by the bird being quite far away, or by it flying as soon as I’ve gotten a glimpse. But in your yard, they may be closer and more likely to linger for good views—giving you the chance you need to study them.

You might even get lucky and have a downy woodpecker and a hairy woodpecker visit your suet at the same time! Look at the short, dinky bill on the downy and that huge bill on the hairy. I like to use alliteration to keep their size and bill length s… — You might even get lucky and have a downy woodpecker and a hairy woodpecker visit your suet at the same time! Look at the short, dinky bill on the downy and that huge bill on the hairy. I like to use alliteration to keep their size and bill length straight in my head. Getting a side-by-side view really brings their size difference home! *Photo by Deb Yodock CC BY-NC*

Project FeederWatch even has a handy page designed to help you with some of these tricky bird IDs. Click through each chart for excellent comparison photos and tips for how you can distinguish between several look-alike species.

Reason #2. Your bird ID skills will improve as you gain insight into unique bird behaviors.

There’s a lot of action that happens at feeders. Different species interact, different foraging strategies come to light, and the different personalities of each bird start to shine. There can be a flurry of drama in a fight to gain more seeds, or there can be a near-empty yard in a split second—thanks to the incoming Cooper’s hawk.

The more you watch your feeder, the more you’ll pick up on the quirks of bird behaviors. Which species will eat seeds right at the feeder, and which ones will sneak seeds away to cache in a hidden spot in the yard? Which species have no problem eating alongside another, and which will bully away incoming birds?

The up-close-and-personal insight you get into bird behavior isn’t something that all birders get to witness. It’s an exciting world where you can learn a lot about the characters and personalities of different species—and the knowledge you pick up can easily translate over to your beyond-the-yard birding adventures. Something you’ve picked up about the way a certain species looks in flight might be enough for you to instantly recognize that bird when you’re out in the field.

Improving your birding skills takes practice. Feeder-watching can be a fun way to absorb a myriad of bird behaviors and improve your bird ID skills in the process.

A dark-eyed junco and a black-capped chickadee perch on opposite sides of a feeder. Photo by Robert Engberg CC BY — A dark-eyed junco and a black-capped chickadee perch on opposite sides of a feeder. *Photo by Robert Engberg CC BY*

Reason #3. The data you collect has real, tangible impacts on bird conservation.

Project FeederWatch has been running since 1987. That’s over three decades of data collected about feeder birds. Each and every year, with more and more participants, FeederWatch data continues to reveal trends about bird density and the potentially shifting ranges of wintering birds. Because of the specific counts performed, FeederWatch data can be used to study very gradual changes in a species’ population or density, something that isn’t easily monitored.

But that’s not all. The list of what FeederWatch data can and has done is long. As the program reports, “The massive amounts of data collected by FeederWatchers across the continent help scientists understand ...

long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance
the timing and extent of winter irruptions of winter finches and other species.
expansions or contractions in the winter ranges of feeder birds
the kinds of foods and environmental factors that attract birds [and]
how disease is spread among birds that visit feeders.” (from Project FeederWatch)

Look at that trend! The FeederWatch data on the presence of Cooper’s hawks near feeders has scientists hypothesizing reasons why more and more of these raptors are choosing to overwinter. Illustration by Virginia Greene, from “30 Years of Project Fe… — Look at that trend! The FeederWatch data on the presence of Cooper’s hawks near feeders has scientists hypothesizing reasons why more and more of these raptors are choosing to overwinter. *Illustration by Virginia Greene, from “30 Years of Project FeederWatch Data”*

Are you curious what 30+ years of research collected from volunteers about backyard birds across the country can look like? Check out this article, “30 Years of Project FeederWatch Yield New Insights About Backyard Birds” for more great infographics and case studies of the critical work that’s come from the data of volunteer citizen scientists.

Reason #4. You’ll find joy and comfort during a challenging winter pandemic.

We all know that this winter in particular has the potential to be a long one. In any year, the limited daylight hours can do a number on our mental health. But between seasonal affective disorder, politics, and the still-worsening pandemic things might feel even darker than usual.

It may feel small in the scale of things, but I’d encourage you to let birds give you a purpose this season. Create a routine out of your feeder-watching experience, whether just for you or for the whole family. Maybe your feeder-watching is a meditative, quiet time for you to step away into the bird-world for a while, or maybe it’s time to bond with a partner or child over the joy of seeing a woodpecker finally visit the suet you put out.

There’s always a chance you might spot the holy grail of woodpeckers — the pileated woodpecker! Photo by Mark Moschell CC BY-NC — There’s always a chance you might spot the holy grail of woodpeckers — the pileated woodpecker! *Photo by Mark Moschell CC BY-NC*

There’s a lot of satisfaction that comes from collecting important data, but there’s arguably even more satisfaction from watching birds gather and eat the food you refilled just that morning. You’re making a difference for birds—in more ways than one—and that can feel good. Embrace it.

One of the reasons that I love birding is because it makes me happy. It brings me joy. It allows me to spend time looking at fascinating feathered creatures that are capable of incredible things, and to be humbled and awed by nature on a daily basis. Why not chase that feeling every day, even on the coldest of the cold? You can, if you’ve got a window with a view.

Reason #5. Last but not least, you can tell your friends and family that you helped document the Great Winter Finch Irruption of 2020*.

(They’ll be impressed. I guarantee it.)

Last week on the Entryway to Birding blog, we talked all about winter finches and how this year is shaping up to be a huge irruption year for several boreal finch species—like pine siskins, common redpolls, and evening grosbeaks to name a few. Folks that have been watching their feeders for years may not have ever seen an evening grosbeak in our region. It’s very rare for that species to venture so far south, but this year is shaping up to be a unique one. More and more eBird reports are proving that they’ll be prolific this year—in fact, some of them have already made it down to Florida!

There’s no guarantees in birding, though, so I can’t promise that you’ll see an assortment of exciting winter finches in your yard. But … you’ll never know they’re there if you aren’t looking! If nothing else, let the draw of these stunning finches be the reason you spend more time with the birds.

*I’m pretty sure I’m the only one calling it this so far, but it’ll catch on.

A common redpoll perches on a sock feeder filled with thistle—a small seed favored by these winter finches! Photo by USFWS Midwest Region CC BY — A common redpoll perches on a sock feeder filled with thistle—a small seed favored by these winter finches! *Photo by USFWS Midwest Region CC BY*

Okay, I’m convinced! But I’ve got some questions.

How do I get started?

You can head to this page to learn more about the program and register to join. There is a small fee to join Project FeederWatch, but that fee goes straight back into the program and allows this important citizen science program to keep running year after year. After you join, you’ll receive an instructional packet that will provide everything you need to record and submit your data.

I don’t have feeders. Can I still participate?

Even though it’s called Project FeederWatch, you don’t need feeders to participate! You can document the birds visiting natural areas of your yard or apartment complex. Learn more here.

I want to put up some feeders but don’t know where to start.

Check out this resource page that overviews the many styles of feeders that are out there and what types of birds prefer them. It can help you determine what’s best for you, your yard, and the birds you’d like to attract.

How much time will this take?

As much or as little as you’d like to devote to it! The program asks that you observe birds on two consecutive days, leaving at least five days in between your viewings, so you could do a count up to once a week. But less often is fine—there is no requirement to make every week, and the amount of time you spend observing birds each day is up to you. The program runs through early April. Read more about the instructions for participants here.

There’s No Better Time to Join Project FeederWatch