Type(s) of habitat : Backyards, nature centers. Generally rural or suburban
Primary species covered : Landbirds that visit bird feeders
Sampling Design : Depends on citizen scientists (data collected by volunteers). Sampling locations are determined by the volunteers.
Field methods : Counts at feeders, species, number and weather conditions, effort information
Data format : Over 5 million records per year, maintained in Oracle data base at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Raw data available - contact the Lab. Data retrieval tools including simple trend graphs and distribution maps available to the public at: <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/DataRetrieval/dataretr_index.html>
Sample size : Counts submitted from about 10,000 participants each year, over 5 million birds reported in 2003.
Results : <http://birds.cornell.edu/PFW/News/>
Trends and time series availability : <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/DataRetrieval/trendgraphs/index.html>
Publications : <http://birds.cornell.edu/PFW/News/ScientificPapers.htm>
Funding sources : Fees paid by participants to Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada.
Applications for the data : long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance; timing and extent of winter irruptions of winter finches and other species; expansions or contractions in the winter ranges of feeder birds; kinds of foods and environmental factors that attract birds; how disease is spread among birds that visit feeders
Users of the information : Research Scientists