GREENBELT, Md. - Could index-size cards dating back more than 100 years old help scientists understand the effects of climate change?

Local volunteers hope the information on the Migration Observer Cards will give them a glimpse into history and perhaps protect the future for birds.

Volunteer Melissa Kennedy is helping sort through the more than six million cards. Each card documents a sighting of one of more than 870 bird species, from a Royal Tern to the Great Grey Owl. They date back to 1880. 

Putting together the information helps to recreate migration patterns and bird populations, which can change over time depending on many factors, including climate.

» On the Web: North American Bird Phenology Program

Kennedy is just one of more than 1,000 volunteers from around the world who are filing through the cards as part of the North American Bird Phenology program at a U.S. Geological Survey office in Beltsville.

"They'll abbreviate, so you'll see '91 and you realize its 1891 not 1991," Kennedy said. 

"I guess the most unique cards I've come across are some observations from the White House grounds in 1910 by Teddy Roosevelt," said Bob Hartman, another volunteer.

Pointing to one card, Jessica Zelt, the program coordinator, said, "The bird, the Baltimore oriole was last seen on 9/1 in 1924."

A few thousand volunteer birders participated in the North American Bird Phenology program to learn more about bird migration.

The cards have been unused since the program ended in 1970. Now, scientists think this treasure trove of information could help unravel the effects of climate change on birds.

"In the U.S. we know very little, there have been some smaller studies short term studies or studies on certain species, but nothing on such a large scale like what's going on here," Zelt said.

"People a hundred years ago couldn't have imagined that this would be going on at this time," Hartman added.

As she transcribes the card's information into a database, Kennedy hopes she's helping protect her winged friends from harm -- while getting a glimpse into history.

"The handwriting is really different from our modern day scribble," she observed. "It's like looking back in time."

It's believed these cards contain almost all of what we know about bird migration from the 1880s to World War II.

So far, volunteers have transcribed roughly 160,000 cards.

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