CLIMATE WATCH
Over the coming decades, climate change will lead to major changes in ecosystems. Plant biomes will gradually change, and with them the insects and seeds that many birds depend on. Some migratory birds follow paths imprinted in their genes, and adapting to such changes may not be quick or easy. In some cases, suitable habitat will become more widespread; in others, more localized. What will the birds do? A group of scientists at the National Audubon Society has modeled changes in bird populations over the coming 30 years. Climate Watch is a long-term program to monitor selected bird species to see how their populations actually change.
Read about ten years of Climate Change
Map showing predicted range gain and loss for Mountain Bluebird in western North America, assuming a 2 degree C warming. Data from Climate Watch will help test and refine these predictions. Read about the Survival by Degrees report.
How Can I Help?
In Climate Watch, observers target any of twelve bird species, chosen for their familiarity and their sensitivity to climate change. Counts of these species are distributed in 10-kilometer squares during month-long survey seasons in winter and summer.
Winter season: January 15 – February 15
Summer season: May 15 – June 15
You will need to visit 12 locations within a single 10 kilometer (6 mile) square — the locations must represent suitable habitat for a particular species. At each location, count birds for five minutes. That’s it! Data can be submitted in various ways. (more info)
The species of interest in our area are:
Mountain Bluebird
Western Bluebird
White-Breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Spotted Towhee
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
(In most locations, Lesser Goldfinch is summer only; American Goldfinch is winter only.)
Sangre de Cristo Audubon Society has participated in Climate Watch since 2019 and is always seeking new participants.
Contact: Albert Shultz, local coordinator for Climate Watch
shultzaw@gmail.com or via phone: 505-757-2754 or 505-699-1521
Map showing current claimed squares for Climate Watch in the Santa Fe area. In addition, our observers are monitoring squares farther away in northern NM.
Common Questions
What’s this for? Climate Watch is a community science program ogranized by the National Audubon Society. Its purpose is to monitor changes in bird populations throughout North America over the coming decades during changing climate. Climate Watch observers from Sangre de Cristo Audubon have been participating since 2019. If you go birding and don’t mind sharing your lists, here’s a way to contribute to a larger effort. You can go to https://www.audubon.org/community-science/climate-watch for more background.
How long does this take? During each season, you’ll count on a single day of your choice. A set of 12 points will take about half a day, but maybe as little as 2 hours.
Can I have a partner for my counts? Yes, you can work alone or with one or two other people.
Can I count birds at home? Maybe. Home can be one of your twelve locations, as long as there is enough similar habitat for your species nearby for the remaining locations. The location points must be at least 200 meters apart, and all points should be publicly accessible. All in all, then, a private home usually isn’t a good choice for these counts — but might work if it is next to public land or a trail or easement. In developed areas, some target species may be suitable to survey by street birding, as long as road noise or other distractions don’t interfere with your ability to detect and observe birds.
Can I count birds that I hear but don’t see? Yes. If you know bird sounds, they are a great help and you will find and report more birds.
Can I count distant birds? Only count birds within 100 meters (330 feet) of your location at each point. Each point is at the center of a count circle 200 meters in diameter. You can include birds high overhead, as long as they are over the same circle.
Should I count all birds, or only my target species? This is up to you, but also relates to how you’ll be submitting your data. Most observers make eBird lists including all species. But if you have good cellular service where you count and use the Audubon app, you can count only your target species.
Can I take more than one day to visit my twelve locations? No, all twelve should be visited in a single day, preferably in the morning as birds are usually more active then.
Can I count on several days and pick the day with the most birds? No. Even counts with no birds provide valid data, as long as they sample the correct habitat and are done under reasonable conditions (that is, not during severe weather, heavy traffic, etc.). But it is OK to visit your points for a trial run, and then return on a different day for the actual count.
How do I report my counts? There are several options. You can use eBird, making a separate list of all birds for each point location. There’s also an Audubon mobile app or web portal for reporting just the target species. Or you can send paper lists or whatever you have to your Coordinator.
If I start now, can I do this again next year? Yes! Summer counts are every year, May 15 through June 15. And there is also a winter season, Jan. 15 – Feb. 15. For some species, the same locations will work for both seasons. And it is ideal to continue counting your same points for as many years as possible. But don’t worry — if you cannot continue, we will make those points available for a new observer.
How do I start? Contact your local coordinator, who will distribute people to the right places and help them get started. This includes helping you pick the locations for your counts, although you can also do this yourself.
Resources
Contact:
Albert Shultz, local coordinator for Climate Watch
shultzaw@gmail.com or via phone: 505-757-2754 or 505-699-1521
More info: https://www.audubon.org/community-science/climate-watch
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