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Help scientists learn about and protect birds, and have fun outside in nature at the same time. Citizen Science is the name given to research projects that everyday citizens help to conduct. By participating, you not only get to learn something about the birds you study and the research being conducted, but you contribute directly to large-scale studies that help scientists learn things about birds that are not possible otherwise. With protocols that range from easy and casual to demanding and precise, Citizen Science projects accommodate a breadth of interest, available time, and skill. All of the projects, however, help Audubon do a better job of protecting birds and their habitats.

• Whether you are a novice, casual, or hard-core birder, consider using New York eBird to report and organize your sightings. Not only can you use the amazing tools to view and explore eBird data, you can see your own observations contribute to the growing database. New York eBird is a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon New York, and the New York State Ornithological Association
• The National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count (CBC) has become the world's largest all-volunteer bird survey. More than 50,000 people participate each year in this all-day census of early winter bird populations. Participants do their counting within a designated 15-mile circle on a give count day. Data from Christmas Bird Counts have been instrumental in identifying Important Bird Areas and in detecting changes in abundance of wintering bird species.
• When President’s Day rolls around each year, it’s time for the Great Backyard Bird Count, a joint program of Audubon and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. While backyards are a good place to count in mid-winter, participants are welcome to count wherever they want. Please consider counting at one of New York’s Important Bird Areas.
• For the truly adventurous, consider joining Mountain Birdwatch, in which participants adopt a mountain and go for a hike each June to survey 5 high-elevation target species. One of those species, the Bicknell’s Thrush, is one of the highest priority landbirds in the Northeastern U.S., and Mountain Birdwatch is the best survey to learn how their populations are faring.
• If you are more the stay-at-home type, then Project FeederWatch is the project for you. This joint project of Audubon, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and others is perfect for kids or others who enjoy keeping tabs on the species that show up at the backyard birdfeeders during the winter.
• Skilled birders able to identify all birds in their region by sight and sound should consider volunteering for the Breeding Bird Survey administered by the U.S. Geological Survey. The BBS began in 1966 and has been providing some of the best information about population trends of breeding birds ever since.

Other sites of interest:

New York State Breeding Bird Atlas
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science Projects