Project NestWatch. Last February (2006) we launched a new project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Informal Science Education Program (Rick Bonney, PI, myself, Andre´ Dhondt, Paul Allen, and Caren Cooper as co-PI's). Project NestWatch is a four-year endeavor involving a large number of lab staff as well as outside partners and advisors. The audience targeted by this project is a broad sector of the informal learning community, including those willing to work independently, those that participate in more structured projects with personal guidance at museums and science centers, and the online learning community. The project examines differences in learning and behavior as a function of three different citizen science experiences. NestWatch involves citizen scientists in independent nest monitoring, scientist-guided nest-monitoring, and monitoring of cam-nests via the internet. The evaluation will compare the learning outcomes of these different experiences. As of mid-September, we have developed the data structure, begun building the online data entry system, developed the scientific questions, and met with partners to develop scientific collaborations. This four-year project will be pilot-tested in spring 2007 following front-end evaluation of the data entry system by The Birdhouse Network participants in autumn 2006. It is funded for four years and we are exploring a diversity of sustainability models, which include subscriptions for video-streaming of nestcams and cloning of the online data entry tools. In spring 2006 we began testing a model that involved user donations to support bandwidth fees for streaming video cams. We conducted preliminary evaluation of the CAM experience and found indicators of learning outcomes. The potential for CAMs to reach audiences was apparent in the narratives from people with disabilities and viewers whose desk jobs restrict their time outdoors. Learning outcomes were indicated in description of sharing of observations, research, and interpretations within families. These outcomes will be addressed formally in an evaluation project in collaboration with Seavoss Associates and as part of the dissertation research of Tina Phillips.

This project will contribute to the following broader aims:
1. Digitizing of historic data on nesting birds to examine global climate change impacts.
2. Explore and test the capacity of citizen science activities online to promote environmental awareness and trigger greater exploration of the outdoors.
3. Test the educational impacts of citizen science participation.
4. Permit scientific analysis of the impacts of urbanization on nesting biology and reproductive success of birds.

The following activities have been successfully implemented:
1. Science questions identified and defined.
2. National database designed and web-based data entry pilot tested.
3. Advisory board meeting held with advisors and partner site leaders.
4. Educational materials created.
5. Project assistant hired and trained.
6. Collaborative partnership formed with Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center.
7. Negotiated with The North American Bluebird Society to have the Transcontinental Bluebird Trail monitors join our project.

NestWatch currently serves about 1000 citizen participants. We have hired a marketing director to help increase membership and we have formed many partnerships to increase participation in 2007.

Adelson Family Fund for Citizen Science (2006)

• Rick Bonney (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
• Andre Dhondt (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
• Caren Cooper (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)
• Paul Allen (Cornell Lab of Ornithology)