Backyard Birdcount Time!
Calling all Citizen Scientists!
By Outdoor Afro Contributor, Donna Long
Beginning today, I am participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count. It runs through Monday, February 21, 2011. It is the first time I have submitted data for this citizen science project. I don’t think it will be much different from Project Feederwatch, that I participate in.
The Great Backyard Bird Count, like Project Feederwatch, monitors the abundance, distribution and winter bird movement of birds in North America.
I think it is important to count and submit data on urban birds. An article, last year, in the scientific journal Nature, revealed that ecologists have neglected the study of urban ecosystems. There is a notion afoot, that animals and plants must disappear (die off) in the presence of humans. The numbers are often reduced, but many animals live in cities. What I often write about is how we can provide good lives for all the inhabitants of the city, human and non-human.
Donna Long
Donna Long is a writer and naturalist living in the beautiful Delaware River Valley who writes on natural history topics
Great read—
I was particularly grabbed by the part that says—-
“There is a notion afoot, that animals and plants must disappear (die off) in the presence of humans.”
We as humans really need to get back in touch with our surroundings–
i have a large and beautiful backyard. The thing that brings it to life are the birds. with their songs and colors the yard is a living piece of enjoyment.
Without them it is very quiet—almost DEAD.
We need the birds—-
Keep up the good work.