May 7, 2010
As Oil Spreads, Citizen-Science Network Keeps Tabs on Birds
High-tech eBird website tracks numbers in real-time
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Ithaca, NY (HNN) -- As oil continues to gush into the ocean from the Deepwater Horizon well, Gulf Coast bird watchers are now taking action by surveying beaches and marshes for birds. By entering their counts at www.ebird.org, they are helping scientists track hundreds of species that could be affected as the oil spreads toward land.
“No one knows what the impact on birds will be, but bird watchers have a key role in helping us to find out,” said Chris Wood, co-leader of eBird, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. “We’re asking birders to survey the coastline for Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, American Oystercatchers, and other birds to help us understand the spill’s impacts—and guide the region’s clean-up and recovery efforts.”
Anyone can view maps showing where each species is and how many are being reported up to the hour by visiting www.ebird.org. The new eBird Gulf Coast Oil Spill Bird Tracker on the site enables people to gain quick access to interactive maps showing the latest bird reports.
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As Oil Spreads, Citizen-Science Network Keeps Tabs on Birds
High-tech eBird website tracks numbers in real-time
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Ithaca, NY (HNN) -- As oil continues to gush into the ocean from the Deepwater Horizon well, Gulf Coast bird watchers are now taking action by surveying beaches and marshes for birds. By entering their counts at www.ebird.org, they are helping scientists track hundreds of species that could be affected as the oil spreads toward land.
“No one knows what the impact on birds will be, but bird watchers have a key role in helping us to find out,” said Chris Wood, co-leader of eBird, a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. “We’re asking birders to survey the coastline for Brown Pelicans, Roseate Spoonbills, American Oystercatchers, and other birds to help us understand the spill’s impacts—and guide the region’s clean-up and recovery efforts.”
Anyone can view maps showing where each species is and how many are being reported up to the hour by visiting www.ebird.org. The new eBird Gulf Coast Oil Spill Bird Tracker on the site enables people to gain quick access to interactive maps showing the latest bird reports.
Share This Story:
Make HNN Your Homepage (IE Users Only)
