Can you tell a wagtail from a house sparrow?

Danish Ornithological Society (DOF) and researchers from the University of Copenhagen are seeking hundreds of volunteers to help track bird populations as part of a new project, according to a report by DR.

The initiative, “Birds in New Nature” (FiNN), aims to monitor how nature projects—including the planting of 250,000 hectares of new forest under Denmark’s green tripartite agreement—affect bird species, many of which are in sharp decline.

Biologist Joakim Matthiesen of DOF said the project currently has over 100 volunteers but hopes to recruit up to 500. Participants will use binoculars and an app to document bird counts in selected areas, with observations recorded over five-minute intervals.

However, volunteers must already be able to identify most Danish bird species without aids like field guides or apps such as Merlin Bird ID or DOF’s own Fuglebog. “It’s essential to know the common Danish birds by sight and sound,” Matthiesen said. “If you take a walk in the woods, you should know what you’re seeing and hearing.”

While the project demands prior knowledge, DOF offers resources like Fuglebogen and Fuglebingo for those looking to improve their skills.