Join the “Litter Bird-en” Citizen Science Project!
Submitted by Holly on 20 Aug 2024.
The team at Federation University is excited to invite you to participate in new citizen science project, “The Litter Bird-en” (Ethics application 2024/143).
Why Litter Matters to Birdlife
Litter (i.e. man-made debris, rubbish, garbage, trash), poses a significant threat to wildlife, especially birds. Birds can ingest litter, become entangled in it, or use it as nesting and breeding material. To better understand these interactions in Australia, we need your help!
How You Can Help
Federation University is calling on citizen scientists to photograph any bird-litter interactions they encounter and either email a photo of their bird - litter interaction along with geographic information to ho.faraone@federation.edu.au, or upload these photos to the Birds and Debris website. Be sure to provide information about the location where the photo was taken.
Who Can Participate?
Anyone with a camera and a keen eye for bird-litter interactions can join this project!
What Do You Need to Do?
- Take Photos: Capture images of birds interacting with litter. This can include birds carrying litter, incorporating litter into their nests, using litter to attract other birds, becoming entangled in litter, or ingesting litter.
- Upload and Share: Upload your photos and geographic information to the Birds and Debris website.
Photo Guidelines
- Maintain Distance: Take photos from an appropriate distance to avoid disturbing birds, nests, or surrounding vegetation.
- Report Issues: If you see any entangled or injured birds, report them to your local wildlife rescue.
- Ethical Birding: For more information on ethical birding, visit BirdLife Australia’s ethical birdwatching guidelines.
Need More Information?
For more details about the project, visit the Birds and Debris website or contact us at ho.faraone@federation.edu.au.
Feel free to share this project with anyone who might be interested.
Kind regards,
Hannah (PhD candidate), Birgita (chief investigator), and the research team
Federation University Australia
federation.edu.au
