Haikuboxes across North America collect valuable bird identification and recording data. Through October 2022, over 38 million bird songs and calls were identified and recorded by these Haikuboxes, with millions more added every month. During the spring and summer when birds are most active, each Haikubox can collect over 3,000 identifications per day, so more community science data is gathered with every Haikubox installation.
An analysis of Haikubox data in July 2022 showed that five species (House Sparrow, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay and American Robin) made up about one-third of all identified birds. A new analysis, conducted in early November after the busy breeding and nesting season, also showed that five species made up one-third of all detections, but the leaderboard changed: the House Finch now tops the list followed by the House Sparrow; the Blue Jay topped the Northern Cardinal for the number three spot, and the Tufted Titmouse pulled ahead of the American Robin to occupy the last rung on the Haikubox “high-flyer” list.
As in the July analysis, 15 species* make up an additional one-third of all identifications, with the remaining birds (over 500 total species) making up the final third of all identifications.
Regional differences are expected, and overall results will change as more Haikuboxes are added across the US and Canada.
This kind of widespread nature monitoring is only possible with the help of Haikubox owners acting as community scientists by installing and allowing the use of their bird recordings to be used for scientific study by researchers at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
* For those keeping score:
July 2022 results: Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, House Wren, Red-belled Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, California Towhee, and Downy Woodpecker.
November 2022 results: Carolina Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Anna’s Hummingbird, American Robin, American Crow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Grackle, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Song Sparrow, Carolina Chickadee, White-throated Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Downy Woodpecker and California Towhee.