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This UCLA research project needs your help studying birds after wildfires
Geese near MacArthur Park lake, with the downtown Los Angeles skyline in the background.
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Patrick T. Fallon
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AFP via Getty Images
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Topline:
Researchers at UCLA are asking the public for help documenting changes in bird behavior from wildfire smoke. It takes 10 minutes a week to participate.
Why are they doing this: “We don’t know a lot about how wildfire smoke is impacting birds,” Olivia Sanderfoot, the director of Project Phoenix, said. Her team is trying to change that. Forecasting where wildfire smoke will blow is difficult, so the researchers are turning to the public to get a geographic spread on how birds along the West Coast are affected.
Why start now: This is the third year Project Phoenix has been conducting research, working between July and November, which is peak fire season on the West Coast. Volunteers can join at any point during those months.
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What should I look for: All it requires to participate is 10 minutes of observation a week at a bird spotting location of an individual's choosing. Participants are then asked to note the activity of all the birds they see online at eBird. If you need help with identifying birds, resources are available on Project Phoenix.
How do I join: Sign up here. Findings from previous years has shown that birds are much more vulnerable to air pollution than humans. The ultimate goal of Project Phoenix, Sanderfoot said, is “to learn more about how we can help birds thrive during hotter and smokier summers."
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