Audubon’s science work relies heavily on bird lovers and the community at large. eBird, a well-established joint project by Audubon and Cornell Lab of Ornithology, allows birders to organize their sightings, share them with others, and look up maps and records for specific species. But it’s not a glorified bird diary.
Tools like eBird help birds by aiding in important studies and informative resources like an Audubon-generated Migration Passage Analysis. Audubon also works to shift citizen science to something more like community science, thanks to annual counting events. Those include Climate Watch, the Great Backyard Bird Count, and the world-famous Christmas Bird Count—something Alaskans have participated in since before its statehood.
Information entered during these events—or any time—not only promotes community gatherings but also helps researchers examine widespread trends in bird populations and migration.
Community science and Christmastime go hand in hand thanks to Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, but conservationists use eBird data year-round to improve the life of birds—Alaska’s included.
One small study area in Southeast Alaska shocked the Audubon Science Division: The Chilkat Valley is a major migration passage for many Alaska birds.
And the case for Salmon Creek, the last option for the Juneau Douglas Second Crossing to be constructed off the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge.
