The 1997-98 Project FeederWatch season marks a second decade of citizen-scientists who count and identify North American feeder birds. Their data help detect changes within winter bird populations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Many of this year's new FeederWatchers are Auduboners. This past year, NAS and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology joined forces on several Citizen Science projects, including the 11-year old Project FeederWatch. A new feature of the Project this year is that participants can now send in their data electronically, via the World Wide Web. The Project also has its own Web site: http://birds.cornell.edu/. Select "Citizen Science" and then "Project FeederWatch".

Among last year's new FeederWatch participants was Ann Westling, of the Sierra Foothills AS in Central California. Ann says that her participation made her "a much better birder." She adds, "Because I had to identify feeder birds accurately, I was forced to finally learn the differences between all those finches we have out here -- house ..., purple ..., Cassin's... Plus, I had lots of fun."

This year Ann is not only doing FeederWatch again, but she's busy signing up dozens of classrooms. She's already held Saturday FeederWatch training sessions for Central CA teachers, demonstrating the simple counting protocol and sharing her own experiences. Teachers like the project because it engages students in real research and puts them in touch with working scientists.

Feeder Watchers can sign up through Feb. 28, 1998, but earlier is better. The $15 annual participation fee covers costs of materials, postage, and data analysis. Participants receive a Research Kit that includes instructions, data forms, a Bird Note on Winter Bird-feeding, plus a Bird-watching Days calendar.

For More Info, Contact: Margaret Barker, Ed. Outreach; Cornell Lab of Ornithology; 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.; Ithaca, NY 14850; ph: 607/254-2427; FAX: 607/254-2415;