A New Year’s resolution I can live up to
Trumpeter Swan, photo by Don Brockmeier
I am sure that many of you made New Year’s resolutions and I am also sure that some of you have probably already broken one or two, as I always do. I made several resolutions this year including the standard ones: “I am going to eat less, exercise more and lose some weight”. Unfortunately that is one resolution that I have always struggled to see through and complete because I LOVE food, so this year I decided to make another resolution that I think I will actually be able to live up to.
“I resolve to report daily observations of the birds that I see on eBird.”
Some of you may have heard of eBird. It’s a web-based data recording system where birders of all skill levels and experience levels can report their sightings to a database. Of course you need a computer and internet access, but I am assuming that if you are reading this column you probably have that covered.
When birders enter sighting reports for any species on eBird, they are contributing to a database used by the scientific community to monitor bird populations, bird migrations and the ranges of bird species. And if you happen to report something rare, it will ask you to verify your report, and if you are sure of what you saw and give a location, it will put a dot on a map that will possibly be of interest to other birders from your area, state or possibly even from other states.
I have been a registered user of eBird, but in the past I have only reported the rare species. Posting a sighting of a Common Crane near Hershey, Nebraska on eBird last spring produced a lot of interest. Birders came from all directions to try to add this species to their life, United States or Nebraska bird lists. We had people from the east coast, Texas, California and many other states show up right here in the Hershey area to look for that bird. And the vast majority of them got to see it (gotta love the technology of today) and I was proud to be able to share that bird with many that had searched in vain before.
You may be thinking, “I am not that good a birder – I probably wouldn’t help much”. But even if all you do is feed birds in your back yard, and the only species you know are the ones using your feeders, you can still contribute a lot of information by using eBird. And you don’t have to do it every day, you can report as often as you like.
I almost forgot one of the best parts of eBird. After every report you submit, you can click on “My eBird” and get a list of all the species you report and even look up where and when you have seen certain species of birds. So you can contribute to science and have fun keeping your lists all at the same time. The system can also produce various charts and range maps by species or locations/regions.
For more information on eBird, check out their website.
I wish you all the best in 2011. Get out there and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature around you.
T. J. Walker
Wildlife Biologist
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
North Platte
About the Chicken Dance Trail
The Chicken Dance Trail is actually a collection of great bird watching locations in southwest and south central Nebraska, between the Platte and Republican Rivers. Because the area includes the narrowest section of the hourglass-shaped Central Flyway, the Chicken Dance Trail is uniquely situated for birders. Millions of different birds come through here during spring and fall migrations, making the Chicken Dance Trail one of the best places in the country to see a wide variety of species in a relatively small area.
Our bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and birding experts and are collected into a series of bird watching “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful birding links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Our wildlife and bird watching sites were developed by local naturalists and are collected into a series of “adventures” which are described in detail, along with interactive maps, on our Web site at www.chickendancetrail.com. Other resources include a birding chart, useful links, and guides to restaurants, lodging and activities in the area.
Come and visit and learn why we say, “Birds love this part of Nebraska...and you will too!”
Special Thanks to:
Nebraska Game and Parks, Birds of Nebraska
www.ngpc.state.ne.us/wildlife/guides/birds/findbirds.asp