Scientists want to know about the birds in your backyard, even common ones. Here's how to help

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Power in numbers:  ”You spend 15 minutes really trying to understand what's there, and you multiply that over millions of people, you've got a lot of very powerful data,” said John McCormack, director of the Moore Laboratory of Zoology at Occidental College. He and his colleagues have used the data, which gets uploaded to eBird, to understand whether different species of parrots are mating with each other and creating offspring.

Common birds matter: When you document often-seen species, scientists can use the information to better understand how birds are living across Southern California. For instance, the California quail has patchy distribution, and more data could elucidate the locations of different populations.

Look for the red-whiskered bulbul: The species was introduced to the Huntington Gardens in the late 1960s but has spread rapidly over the last couple of years, McCormack said. Additional data could help scientists understand the nuances of the bulbuls' growth and how it’s affecting other species.

How you can participate: Enter your bird count in the eBird app. If you don’t know a chicken from a chickadee, the Merlin app can help you identify birds by their calls.