Bird Clockers: VICE News Tonight on HBO (Full Segment)

Birds are rapidly losing habitat, and their flight patterns can reveal large-scale changes in our planet’s health. But there are only two ongoing studies of the migration of American birds, one from the U.S. Geological Survey and another done by Audubon Society volunteers.

“The birds are like a barometer,” Brooklyn Bird Club member Paul Keim told VICE News correspondent Mary H.K. Choi in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. “Much like the honeybees, much like frogs, the birds are telling us that environmentally the earth is changing.”

Keim is part of a nationwide effort coordinated by the Audubon Society. From Dec. 14 to Jan. 5, tens of thousands of volunteers participate in the National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count. Last year, they clocked 60 million. The data set they create is vital for American ornithologists, supporting more than 200 peer-reviewed articles.

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[jonsjoblom]

My sister is way into bird watching. Because of her hobby I can identify almost every bird that comes to our yard. Cedar waxwings, norther flickers, black capped chickadees, lazuli buntings, white crowned sparrows, magpies, quail, dark eyed juncos, etc.

[innHD]

I'm sure the heavy usage of pesticides and mosquito fogging have an impact as well .

[paulproductions]

beautiful bird species, please protect them.

[carrrut]

I love birds but I don't think I'd be able to get out on the snow to watch them lol. kudos to these guys

[GarrySkipPerkins]

Mary H.K. Choi is without a doubt the most beautiful employee Vice has ever had. She is also a damn good journalist.

[stgive]

"Alright, let's do it."

[MCWren]

When they said sparrows, there was a house finch on screen instead of a sparrow, lol

[falcoperegrinus]

I participate in 2-3 Christmas Bird Counts every year. It's a lot of fun. It's heartening to see how many people give a shit about wildlife and conservation. Stuff like this really needs more exposure in the media.

[fxvg]

"Well there seems to be an absence of a certain ornithological piece: a headline regarding mass awareness of a certain avian variety."

[oofogmanoo]

Or quit cutting down all our fucking trees

[pdc]

So how does this change due to global warming? Curious.

[AsianLovePotato]

Just curious. Is it hard for her to pick a booger out of her nose if there's that metal ring thingey?

[jamesmedina]

smoke weed everyday. feed them THC, or CBD.

[franklee]

red birds die. im honestly ok with dat

[schweatty]

i love it when they cry about global warming in the middle of a snow storm

[Bo-Dog]

1st time I seen snow & nose ring. If those birdies ant meaty I don't give a shit bout their flight patterns.