Your backyard bird feeder can become a scientific project

Now’s the time to become a citizen-scientist by turning your backyard bird-watching into a fun winter project.

Project FeederWatch, sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has documented changes in the distribution and numbers of feeder birds over its 20-year history.

The project is particularly important now with changes in weather patterns and predictions for more changes in temperatures that will affect the physical environment.

“Monitoring birds over time is the only way to understand the impact of climate change, habitat alteration and other factors influencing bird populations,” said ornithologist and project leader David Bonter.

Those changes can affect the abundance and distribution of birds; by identifying and counting the feeder birds, your data can help identify which birds are where.

FeederWatchers have helped create the world’s largest database of feeder-bird populations, according to Bonter.

“To understand the effects of global climate change and other factors on birds, we need new and veteran participants let us know what they are seeing in their own yards and neighborhoods.”

For example, data from Northwest volunteers have revealed increased sightings of Anna’s hummingbirds along the Pacific Coast and more Northern Flickers throughout the region.

Less severe winter weather and an increase in backyard feeders may be helping the hummingbird survive at the northern limits of its winter range, as well as potentially expanding that range.

On the downside, some finches are being reported by fewer participants each year. The evening grosbeak, formerly one of the top-five species most often reported by FeederWatchers in the region, is experiencing a drastic, mysterious decline.

The 21st season of Project FeederWatch gets under way in November and runs through early April 2008. To learn more or to register, visit www.birds.cornell.edu/?pfw or call 800-843-2473.

For $15, new participants receive the “FeederWatcher’s Handbook,” an identification poster of the most common feeder birds; a calendar and instructions.

Changes in the state parks: While most state parks will remain open during the winter, the winter schedule includes parks that will shut down, offer limited services or open only on weekends and holidays.

If it’s too cold or wet to be comfortable in a tent, spend the night in a cozy cabin at Camano Island, Kitsap Memorial or Wallace Falls state parks; a yurt at Cape Disappointment, Grayland Beach or Seaquest; or a vacation house at Millersylvania, Fort Flag­ler, Fort Worden or Moran.

State parks accepting year-round camping reservations are Cape Disappointment, Deception Pass, Dosewallips, Grayland Beach, Ocean City, Pacific Beach and Steamboat Rock.

Call 888-226-7688; for Fort Worden overnighters, call 360-344-4400. For general information, go to www.parks.wa.gov or call 360-902-8844 (Washington Telecommunications Relay Service, 800-833-6388).

Summit for Someone: Backpacker Magazine’s program includes benefit climbs with individuals raising funds to participate. The money sponsors five teens and a leader for the outdoor youth-mentoring program of Big City Mountaineers, which includes backpacking trips for at-risk youth in Seattle and other cities.

Registration is open for up to 775 climbers in three categories: glacier, alpine rock and expeditions; there is also a women-only category.

Climbing sites include Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Moran, Mount Olympus, Grand Teton, Mount Whitney and Mount Shasta.

For more information, see www.summitforsomeone.org.

Ka-ching: Hiking and non-motorized recreation is big business in Washington state, according to a study done by Washington Trails Association intern Jeannie Frantz for her degree in political science at the University of Washington.

According to the study, low-impact outdoor recreation (including bicycling, camping, fishing, hunting, paddling, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, climbing and wildlife watching) contributes $11.7 billion annually to Washington state’s economy, supports 115,000 jobs, generates $650 million in annual state tax revenue, and produces $8.5 billion annually in retail sales and services statewide.

The report will be presented by WTA to Washington state’s U.S. congressional delegation, which is considering restoring and increasing recreation funds for the U.S. Forest Service.

The full report is available at www.wta.org; to request a copy, call 206-625-1367.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.