With Help from the Public: Tennessee Researchers Collect Data on Over 200 Bird Species

In a fantastic instance of citizen science, public onlookers helped scientists collect data on over 200 bird species at the Seven Islands State Birding Park in Kodak, Tennessee.

According to Knoxville, TN-based news outlet, WBIR, people helped scientists in collecting and cataloging the birds found in the area. Interviewing Clare Datillo, from the Tennessee State Parks, that they have recorded sightings of more than 214 species in the park. The birding park's variety of habitats attracts a wide variety of bird species, making it a great spot in the Knox Country area.

According to the local news channel, the state park is open for interested volunteers for next year's count, with additional details found on the Seven Islands State Birding Park page on the Knoxville, Tennessee website.

A 416-Acre Wildlife Refuge

Located along the French Broad River in Kodak, Tennessee, Seven Islands State Birding Park encompasses 416 acres of land that includes nature trails, hills, and views of the Great Smoky Mountains. With its diverse aquatic and grassland habitats, the birding parks has grown into a premier destination housing a wide variety of wildlife, including birds. Among its most popular ornithologic features include species of songbirds, hawks, and different waterfowl - found especially near the meadow trails. Barn owls also frequent old barns in the area. Other species in the wildlife refuge include northern bobwhites, wild turkeys, screech-owls, woodpeckers, and more.

Aside from being a tourist location, Seven Islands State Birding Park also serves as regular research and educational spot, used as a demonstration area for habitat management and land-use strategies.

The park also sits squarely along the migration route of many birds, which explains the large number and variety of birds observed in the park - some of them nesting in the area depending on the seasons. Migratory birds recorded to have passed through the site include yellowthroats, yellow-breasted chat, and blue grosbeaks in the summer. On the other hand, different sparrow varieties are found in the birding park in the winter.

Citizen Science and Bird Conservation

The growing practice in the Tennessee-based park is one of increasing examples of citizen science aiding bird conservation efforts. Citizen science relies on average people, with or without prior scientific expertise, to gather data and record observation as a part of an often larger study. According to Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, a nonprofit focused on bird conservation activities in the North American continent, information from citizen scientists helped offer new insights on species distribution, population trends, and even environmental changes that affect bird behavior and patterns.

Across North America, BMJV has recorded other instances of the public lending a hand in advancing studies for bird conservation and raising their awareness about these creatures in the process:

Bird Studies Canada has enlisted citizen scientists in some of its programs in British Columbia, one of which is the British Columbia Coastal Waterbird Survey (BCCWS). Data submitted by citizen scientists help shed light on anthropogenic activities on coastal waterbirds.

In the US, specifically survey locations in the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, the Pacific Flyway Shorebird Survey (PFSS) also relies on public assistance during winter through the Migratory Shorebird Project, a large coordinated survey of winter shorebirds on the Pacific Coast.

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