The Use of Social Media and Citizen Science to Identify, Track, and Report Birds

This study involved the use of social media, Twitter, Citizen Science, and the knowledge of indigenous birds. Subjects were 43 senior, elementary, pre-service teachers at a large public university in Southwest Alabama, United States. The elementary, pre-service teachers took a researcher designed pre/posttest about Citizen Science, characteristics of birds, and types of birds spotted at their school, home, and university. There was a positive significant difference between the pre and posttests. The elementary, pre-service teachers were required to watch birds, take pictures/videos of birds, identify the birds, and tweet this information to a twitter address @Watchdabirds. Informal interviews with the elementary, pre-service teachers indicated an increase in the awareness of birds at their home, neighborhood, and school and enjoyment in tweeting the results of the birding.