outdoor

Citizen Science: Report From Your Backyard

Real scientists need data from backyards across the country — and kids can provide it. Every bird you count and every frog call you hear goes into a database researchers actually use.

Free Programs to Join

  • eBird (ebird.org) — count every bird you see in 15 minutes and submit your list
  • Journey North (journeynorth.org) — report your first hummingbird or Monarch of the season
  • FrogWatch USA (aza.org/frogwatch) — listen for frog calls after dark and record what you hear

How To Do It

  1. Pick your project — eBird is perfect for everyday observations. Journey North is great during spring migration. FrogWatch is a fun after-dark activity.
  2. Find your spot — sit still in one place in the yard. Give it 5–10 quiet minutes before animals resume normal behavior.
  3. Count and record — eBird wants every bird including common ones. Journey North needs the date, species, and a brief note. FrogWatch needs 5 minutes of listening after sunset.
  4. Submit your data — your observation joins millions from across the continent that scientists use to track population changes.
  5. Build your list — keep a lifetime tally of every species ever spotted from your yard.

Safety Note

For FrogWatch after dark: always go with an adult. Use a flashlight and scan the ground before each step — frogs, toads, and snakes share the same wet habitats at night.

Grandma Says

The secret to seeing more wildlife is sitting still for longer than feels comfortable. After 10 quiet minutes, birds forget you're there. That's when the real show starts.