Project FeederWatch (FeederWatch)

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

Project FeederWatch provides a citizen-science platform that lets people observe birds and mammals at backyards, nature centers, and other locales in the U.S. and Canada, and contribute counts and observations to long-term scientific research.

Target Customer

Backyard bird watchers, educators, nature centers, schools, community organizations, and general participants across the United States and Canada who want to observe birds and contribute data.

Key Differentiator

Long-running, structured season (Nov 1–Apr 30) with both mobile and web data entry, access to trend data and annual reports, and collaboration among major institutions (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birds Canada) plus raw data downloads and multiple data visuals.

Implementation Timeline

Season runs from November 1 to April 30. Signup can occur ahead of the season, and counting begins when the season starts; counts can be entered via mobile app or website during the season.

Pain Points

1Lack of accessible, structured ways for the public to contribute to scientific understanding of bird populations from home.
2Need for educational resources and guided participation to learn bird identification and data collection.
3Desire for insights into population trends and regional species presence beyond personal observations.

Key Features

1Mobile app for real-time counts and offline or online data entry
2Web-based data entry and viewing (My Counts, project dashboard)
3Data visuals: Trend Graphs, Top 25 Birds, Bird Summaries by State/Province, Participant Map
4Year-end reports and scientific publications based on FeederWatch data
5Raw dataset downloads for researchers and enthusiasts
6Educational resources: feeding tips, safe feeding, common feeder birds, how to participate instructions

Target Customer Industries

Client Results

1Contributions used to advance scientific understanding of backyard birds and avian populations over time
2Public access to trend data and summaries to learn about regional bird occurrences
3Increased engagement and education for participants, including families and mobility-restricted individuals
4Participation supports conservation and science through large-scale citizen science data

Competitive Advantages

1Established, long-running citizen-science program with a robust data ecosystem (trend graphs, state/province summaries, raw data access)
2Multiple access points (mobile app and website) for convenient data entry
3Integration with leading institutions (Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Macaulay Library, Birds Canada) and data sharing
4Educational resources and community engagement features that support learning and outreach

Key Benefits

1Contribute to scientific understanding of bird populations over time

2Access trend data, top species lists, and regional summaries

3Educational resources for teaching and learning about birds

4Flexible participation from home or community spaces

5Opportunity to download raw data for research and analysis

Case Studies & Success Stories

Family participation and educational engagement

Case #1

Participants described FeederWatch as a wonderful opportunity to educate children about birds, observe a variety of species, and learn through season-end summaries, highlighting meaningful, rewarding scientific participation.

Accessibility and inclusivity for health-related limitations

Case #2

A participant noted FeederWatch enabled viewing from home windows, providing companionship and engagement for someone with limited mobility, illustrating social and emotional benefits alongside data contribution.

Increased feeder usage and engagement

Case #3

A participant reported doubling their feeders and observing a wide variety of birds, demonstrating how participation can deepen engagement and observational opportunities.

Perceived value of ongoing participation

Case #4

Families and individuals highlighted the program as a meaningful, ongoing activity that connects everyday life with scientific observation and learning.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

A citizen-science program that invites people to observe birds and mammals at their windows or local sites, count them, and contribute data to science through the FeederWatch platform and app.

Target Market

U.S. and Canada residents including backyard observers, educators, nature centers, schools, and community groups seeking to contribute to science and learn about birds.

Unique Value Proposition

A long-standing, collaborative science initiative that combines easy-to-use counting tools (mobile and web), educational resources, and access to large-scale data and publications, backed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and partner organizations.

Technical Requirements

Data entry via mobile app or website; requires internet connectivity for real-time syncing and access to online resources; app download available for counting.

Pricing Model

Membership and donation-based model. Options include joining for the next season, renewing, or donating to FeederWatch or to the Cornell Lab. Some pages also reference a gift membership option.

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