Citizen Science

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NAS - Climate Watch Winter Count

Jan 15th-Feb 15th

Also the National Audubon sponsors a Climate Watch Winter Count will run from Jan 15th to February 15th, 2020 and this is another chance to bird to help bird science. Volunteers count and document how ranges of bluebirds, nuthatches, goldfinches, towhees, or Painted Bunting are shifting.

Climate Watch volunteers have been working since 2016 to provide pivotal data to help reveal how birds are responding to climate change. Data compiled by volunteers even helped Audubon scientists confirm models for Audubon’s latest climate report, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink. The report indicates that birds are under threat from climate change, and birds tell us: it’s time to act.

https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees

To see SD's vulnerable birds:

https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees/state/us/sd

NAS is trying to understand climate changes effects to birds better.

Volunteer(s) select a 10 square kilometer area. They need to bird for 5 minutes at one or more of 12 points and collect data on all birds seen/heard in the small circle (seen within 100 meter radius). They need to record or enter data to e-bird and send e-bird link to the National Audubon Society. Scroll down for a map of Western SD 10 kilometer squares`. Volunteers sign up for a square to bird in.

We recommend folks evaluate their area for cell phone, wi-fi connection or GPS device reception before choosing. If you have active wi-fi links on the ground, you can add to e-bird immediately as you bird, via app or computer link to e-bird, otherwise you need to convert maps or GPS readings to be unit measures that are compatible with e-bird and enter your birding data to e-bird on-line after the trip.

SD Breeding Bird Atlas II

The new South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas II is now available on line. This detailed report is the result of five years and many hours of work by volunteers and professionals. Information can be accessed for three mile square areas, counties, and regions throughout the state.

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Birding offers many opportunities to participate in Citizen Science, where non-scientists can do research or make observations and record them on different data bases. Some of the programs are listed below....

e Bird

is a free program at Cornell that offers great opportunities to contribute information and keep your own records, charts, maps, etc. for your specified locations. You will need to create a password. (See the eBird page on this website)

SDOU Seasonal Reports

lets you contribute your SD sightings to the state data base, and allows for the creation of personalized county sighting maps by date. The site is free, but you need to create a password. (this can be done through eBird also)

Other programs include seasonal opportunities such as:

Project Feeder watch

Runs November through April. You record sightings from your yard.

Audubon Citizen Science Opportunities

Great Back Yard Bird Count

is held in the middle of February, and can be your yard, parks or recreational areas.

Audubon Christmas Bird Count

A great annual Citizen Scientist opportunity. Area counts include: Sioux Falls, Canton, Yankton and Brookings.

Hummingbirds Home

starting Spring 2013

Hummingbirds at Home http://www.hummingbirdsathome.org/ is a brand new citizen science initiative from Audubon. The project will help scientists understand how climate change, flowering patterns and feeding by people are impacting hummingbirds.

National Wildlife Federation Habitat Certification

for yards and schools.

Make your yard a wildlife friendly habitat.