Birds & Science >

There are many volunteer opportunities across the state for birders. Many are for large and long-running projects that give scientists a better understanding of national and continental population trends. Others are for state-wide and local projects, which give scientists in Connecticut a more detailed picture of population trends and distributions that can be used for local conservation decision-making, such as the identification of new Important Bird Areas.

Nation-wide Citizen Science Programs:

eBird
http://www.ebird.org

Great Backyard Bird Count
http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc

Christmas Bird Count:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc
http://pages.cthome.net/jbair/counts.htm

USGS Breeding Bird Survey:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/bbs.html

Summer Bird Count
http://pages.cthome.net/jbair/counts.htm

Hawk Watches:
http://www.hmana.org/watches.php?stateprov=Connecticut&country=USA
http://www.raptor.cvm.umn.edu
http://www.hmana.org

Quaker Ridge Hawk Watch

Birdathon:
http://www.audubon.org/bird/birdathon

Local Citizen Science Opportunities (also see CT Bird Research) :

Summer Bird Count:
http://pages.cthome.net/jbair/counts.htm
The SBC is modeled after the Christmas Bird Count, with birds observed within various count circles over a period of three weeks in June. All birds recorded over a two-day period are compiled for each circle and then sent to a centralized compiler for the whole state. Results and analysis are published in the Connecticut Ornithological Association's journal The Connecticut Warbler. Please see website above for area contacts.

Natural Diversity Database:
The Connecticut Ornithological Association (COA) and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's (CTDEP) Natural Diversity Database (NDDB) are sponsoring a joint project to document the occurrences of endangered, threatened, and special concern avian species in Connecticut. The CTDEP NDDB is the central repository for information on the biology, population status and threats to the elements of natural diversity in the state of Connecticut. Information on rare plant and animal species and significant natural communities is compiled, stored and made available through the Database. This is crucial in our efforts to protect our declining bird species. The information documented in the NDDB plays a major role in what efforts are made to mitigate threats to avian species and what efforts are made to protect and improve habitats that are critical to the survival of many of Connecticut's birds.

Opportunities with Connecticut DEP Wildlife:
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325722&depNav_GID=1655