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Northern CA PPSR Projects 1

Welcome to our ongoing effort to catalog citizen science and other public participation in scientific research (PPSR) projects for UC California Naturalists and other citizen scientists.  We invite you to browse the listed projects or enter key words (like birds, youth, invasive, coast, Alameda, etc.) in the search box above to find projects in your area. It's a great way to stay involved and keep developing your skills as a natural scientist!

A vast majority of the information in the database was gathered from project websites and may be out of date. We encourage you to contact projects directly to get involved and learn about most recent opportunities. If you work with a listed project and would like to add to, update, or correct the information we have, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu. Also, please consider filling out the "PPSR perspectives" survey. Click here to access the survey, which will help guide this project in the coming year.

If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!

Special thanks goes to the National Science Foundation Informal Science Education program and the Stephen J. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation for supporting this database of projects.

Christmas Bird Count

  • Organization Name
    National Audubon Society
  • Project Website
    http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count , http://www.goldengateaudubon.org/birding-resources/christmas-bird-counts/
  • Organization Website
  • Partners
    local chapters, such as Golden Gate Audubon
  • Contact Name
    Refer to website in November for contact information
  • Contact Email
    Refer to website in November for contact information
  • Contact Phone
    Refer to website in November for contact information
  • Other Contact Information

    To find a counting circle visit the Christmas Bird Count Get Involved web page in November. Circles will be listed with upcoming count dates as compilers enter them.

    See http://www.goldengateaudubon.org/birding-resources/christmas-bird-counts/ for Golden Gate Audubon's bird count.

    See also http://www.natureali.org/cbcs.htm for statewide information

  • Project Purpose (taken from project materials)

    This program was originally started as an alternative to a Christmas bird hunt in the 1900’s.  The program is now an international bird census from which the data has been used to document bird population declines and establish conservation measures.

  • Participant Activities

    Count volunteers follow routes through a designated 15-mile diameter circle, counting every bird they see or hear all day.

  • Data Entry
    • Unknown
  • Other Participant Activities
    N / A
  • System Studied
    • Birds
  • Geographic Scope
    International
  • Region
    All (see 'geographic scope')
  • Location
    The bird count takes place all over the US, Canada and several other locations in the western hemisphere.
  • Location - Map
    N / A
  • Time Commitment
    • Once a year
  • Volunteer Qualifications

    Participants do not need to be skilled birders.  Anyone is welcome to participate in the count circles.

  • Volunteer Training

    Compilers arrange field parties so that inexperienced observers are always out with seasoned veterans.

  • Cost to Participant

     

  • How will the findings be used?
    N / A
  • Other Information

    The bird count takes place between December 14th and January 5th.  Each count lasts all day.
    Participants are organized into groups by the organizer of each Count. Each field party covers a specific area of the 15-mile diameter circle on a specific route.

  • Photo
    Photo from Aubobon's Christmas Bird Count
  • last update:
    1/3/13

If you work with this project and would like to add to or update the information below, please email cghdixon@ucdavis.edu.

If you know of a project not on our list, please go to the "tell us about a project" link on the left so we can list the project here. Thanks for your help!

This database is focused on projects in California focused on the environment. For opportunities outside California, as well as national projects that don't have a California-specific components, check http://www.birds.cornell.edu/citscitoolkit/projects.