Community science projects benefit wildlife in Southwest.
People looking for something to do over the weekend can participate in the global Great Backyard Bird Count while sitting on their lawn chairs.
The 26th annual event will run from Friday to Monday. All levels of birdwatchers are welcome to participate.
Sarah Bradley, the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Stewardship Coordinator, said that the community science project is vital in collecting important information.
She explained that it was an easy way to support conservation efforts in your community. It provides data to scientists that help them understand how bird populations change over time due to factors like climate change, invasive species and habitat loss.
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It takes just fifteen minutes to listen to or watch for birds in your backyard.
Southwest wildlife benefits from community science project https://t.co/Sj0kj6criI
— Swift Current Online (@SCOLnews) February 16, 2023
The mobile apps Merlin Bird ID and eBird are great for beginning bird watchers.
Bradley stated that it’s similar to Shazam for bird callings. You can record a bird calling and it will match it to the bird calls it has in the app. It will also show you the photos. It is a great way to confirm the existence of a species you don’t know.
You can also submit your data through the app. This will go towards the Great Backyard Bird Count Project.
A release by the NCC stated that 384,000 participants from 192 countries participated in the event last year. Canada had over 57,000 bird lists submitted in all 10 provinces, and 3 territories.
Canada is experiencing a decline in bird populations and habitat loss is a significant factor. The loss of prairie grassland birds is a serious concern, as well as shorebirds and aerial insects like the swallows, which seem to be disappearing at alarming speeds.
NCC’s conservation efforts protect these species’ habitats in Saskatchewan.
