Bird tracks and signs are tough to identify and require plenty of tracking experience. Trackers value confirmed bird tracks and signs due to this. In this project, we will collect bird tracks and signs, confirmed or not. Location is important for bird tracks and signs because of the migratory nature of birds. You can obscure coordinates if you wish for sensitive species.
If a track ...mais ↓
Bird tracks and signs are tough to identify and require plenty of tracking experience. Trackers value confirmed bird tracks and signs due to this. In this project, we will collect bird tracks and signs, confirmed or not. Location is important for bird tracks and signs because of the migratory nature of birds. You can obscure coordinates if you wish for sensitive species.
If a track or sign observation is confirmed by a sighting, that is even better, but not required. This project is here so that other trackers and birders can help identify the things we find.
There are projects dedicated to mammal tracks and signs, but not many for bird tracks and signs alone (other than regional projects), so we hope this fills a need.
What qualifies as bird tracks and sign.
- Bird tracks
- Nests/eggs
- Feathers
- Scats/droppings
- Pellets
- Feeding signs
- Predation signs
- Bones/carcasses/skulls
- Uric deposits
- Digs/dust baths/foraging signs
- Bird sounds/calls
- Anything else related to tracks and signs
Note on observations of tracks in general. A scale included in the photo is very helpful for later identification. It is tough to judge the size of the track without it. If you don't have a ruler, use a coin, a pen, a notebook, or other object of known scale. Even placing your hand next to the track works in a pinch. It's also helpful to include closeups of the tracks as well as some overall views showing the gait, trail pattern, etc. A view of the habitat can be useful as well, but not required.
Suggested textbooks for identifying bird tracks and signs are:
Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species by Mark Elbroch
(https://amzn.to/2Z6RRMR)
For Europe:
Tracks and Signs of the Birds of Britain and Europe (Helm Identification Guides by David Lees, John Ferguson, Michael Lawrence, Roy Brown
(https://amzn.to/2KBPf5C)
Resources for Feather Identification:
The Feather Atlas
https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/index.php
Featherbase:
https://www.featherbase.info/uk/home
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