SUNY Orange student Zoe Maxfield was among volunteers who took part in the Orange County Audubon Society’s participation in the Climate Watch bird count. This community science program designed by the National Audubon Society to help scientists better understand how birds are affected by climate change is conducted by volunteers semi-annually, in winter and spring. All collected count data is used to prioritize conservation of the places birds need, now and in the future. 

“Citizen science opportunities like Climate Watch allow people to be part of the larger scientific community and gain a greater understanding of the natural world right in their backyards,” Zoe told the Middletown Times Herald-Record. Zoe acted as data compiler and co-coordinator for this winter survey. “Helping preserve habitats at home is a great way to get people interested in conservation efforts occurring globally.”

Read more at https://www.recordonline.com/news/20190220/local-volunteers-count-birds-to-understand-climate-change