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View a video interview with Tina Phillips, Project Leader of NestWatch and NestCams.

More than 7,500 people across the country are contributing to the study of reproductive strategies of birds, as part of a citizen science program called NestWatch. Developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology with support from the National Science Foundation (DRL-0540185), NestWatch provides an opportunity for people to learn about breeding biology of birds, acquire skills in nest monitoring, develop a better understanding of the process of science, and deepen their commitment to environmental stewardship.

Participants find nests or set up next boxes, then check back regularly and report their observations, including the date the first egg is laid, how many are laid, the number that hatch, and the number of nestlings that survive long enough to fledge. About 92,000 nesting records have been contributed since 1996, when the predecessor of NestWatch, The Birdhouse Network (DRL-9627280), began. Once fully populated, the NestWatch database will include nearly 400,000 nest records spanning more than 40 years and 500 species. Tina Phillips, NestWatch Project Leader, notes that "An individual researcher across their entire lifetime would never be able to gather a fraction of the information of the data we can collect by citizen scientists. Having this huge mass of data actually allows us to see patterns that would occur in a population of birds regardless of where they are located. That's what I think is the most powerful thing about citizen science."

Many people stay involved for years. For many, the program makes it possible "to participate in research that is part of a larger conservation effort," Phillips says. "They also feel a great sense of satisfaction by being part of something bigger that is not only helping science, but helping conserve birds and their habitats."

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has been a leader in development of informal science education programs that offer opportunities for a wide range of people to collaborate and contribute to scientific research. The lab organized a June 2007 conference about citizen science and hosts the website Citizen Science Central, both with support from the National Science Foundation (DRL-0813135 and DRL-0610363).