This is bird note.

Bird feeders provide hours of entertainment, but you might be surprised to learn that

scientists want to know about the species that show up at your humble bird feeder.

Consider this. The only way scientists know about those birds is when ordinary people report what they see and hear.

When millions of people keep track of their local birds, they help create a detailed picture of bird populations all over the world.

E-bird, a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, lets you log the bird species you observe on a smartphone app or on the web. Whether you're going on a birding trip or enjoying birds near home, you can list the species you found on eBird. Data from EBird has helped guide

many conservation efforts, from planning new wind farms away from where eagles fly, to guiding habitat

protection for declining species. Counting birds, wherever you are, is an easy and fun way to help

our feathered friends.

Bird Note has inspired millions of people to take action for birds.

If Birdnote has inspired you to do anything to help birds thrive, let us know about it at

birdnote.org.

I'm Ariana Rimmel.