Project Phoenix is a research initiative recruiting volunteers in California, Oregon, and Washington to track bird behaviors during wildfire season. Volunteers will spend 10 minutes each week observing bird activity in familiar locations and reporting their findings online. Participation requires no prior bird-watching experience, with newcomers encouraged as they often detect common species more keenly. This study is entering its third year, focusing on understanding the impacts of wildfire smoke on avian populations, a critical yet often neglected aspect of the increasing wildfire occurrences in the Western United States.
Ornithologists are seeking volunteers in California, Oregon, and Washington for Project Phoenix, a multiyear research project exploring birds' response to wildfire.
Beginners especially are welcome, in fact, as they're more apt to notice common species and behaviors that longtime bird watchers might overlook.
Volunteers need to choose a comfortable, familiar spot - a backyard, a balcony, a favorite local park - and spend 10 minutes there each week noting any bird activity.
The study aims to understand the effects of wildfire smoke on birds, an understudied component of the ever-expanding Western fire season.
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