eBird

eBird
Name	eBird
Type	Citizen science project
Founded	2002
Founders	Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society (partnerships)
Location	Ithaca, New York
Area served	Global
Mission	Document and connect bird observations worldwide

eBird eBird is a global online database and citizen science program that collects, curates, and provides access to bird observations submitted by amateur and professional birdwatchers. It links field observation efforts to research institutions, conservation organizations, and species accounts, enabling large-scale analyses of distribution, migration, and population trends. The project interfaces with a range of scientific, conservation, and educational entities to support biodiversity monitoring, ecosystem management, and public engagement.

Overview

eBird aggregates bird observations into a central platform used by researchers at institutions such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, conservationists at BirdLife International and the National Audubon Society, and government agencies like the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The platform supports contributions from participants across continents including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica, facilitating connections between local checklist data and global efforts led by organizations such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the IUCN. eBird outputs inform atlases, species accounts, and assessments used by entities including the American Bird Conservancy, Wetlands International, and national parks such as Yellowstone National Park and Kruger National Park.

History and Development

eBird was developed within the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in collaboration with partners including the National Audubon Society and technology contributors from companies like Microsoft Research and Google. Early development drew on precedents from projects such as the Christmas Bird Count and the Breeding Bird Survey, integrating lessons from programs run by institutions like the British Trust for Ornithology and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Over time, funding and support have come from foundations and agencies including the MacArthur Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the Packard Foundation, enabling expansion of tools for mobile data entry, the generation of occurrence models used by groups such as the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, and partnerships with regional initiatives like the African Bird Club and the Latin American Bird Research and Conservation Network.

Data Collection and Submission

Observers submit checklists documenting presence, counts, and effort using interfaces modeled on standards from the Breeding Bird Survey and specimen-based records curated by institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution. Contributors include members of birding organizations like American Birding Association, photographers affiliated with National Geographic Society, university researchers from University of California, Berkeley and University of Oxford, and volunteers engaged with local groups such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams community. Data types include incidental sightings, systematic surveys, area searches, and complete checklists; metadata capture follows protocols comparable to those used by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and standards from the Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG). Mobile apps and web forms support uploading media—photographs and sound recordings—enabling verification similar to museum vouchers archived at institutions like the American Museum of Natural History.

Data Management and Quality Control

eBird employs automated filters, regional experts, and machine-learning tools to flag anomalous records, complementing human review workflows inspired by practices at the Natural History Museum, London and the Royal Ontario Museum. Verification pipelines integrate audio analysis methods used by researchers at the Macaulay Library and spectrogram comparison tools developed in collaboration with teams at Cornell University and Xeno-canto. Data licensing arrangements and sharing adhere to principles followed by repositories such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and are used in compliance with policies from agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey. Quality-control partnerships include collaborations with national rarities committees and academic groups at institutions such as University of Cape Town and Monash University.

Research, Conservation, and Citizen Science Impact

Datasets from eBird underpin studies published by scholars at Harvard University, Stanford University, Princeton University, and international teams working with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to assess threat status and range shifts. Conservation actions informed by eBird data involve organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, BirdLife International, and national wildlife services in countries like Canada (Environment and Climate Change Canada) and Australia (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment). The platform has enabled modeling of migration phenology, occupancy, and abundance used by researchers at the University of Michigan and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and contributed to policy discussions at forums including the Convention on Biological Diversity and regional biodiversity strategies.

Technology and Platform Features

Technical infrastructure integrates cloud services, geospatial tools, and statistical modeling frameworks developed in cooperation with technology partners such as Google, Amazon Web Services, and academic groups at Princeton University. Tools include interactive maps, occurrence models, eBird Status and Trends products, and APIs used by developers at organizations like iNaturalist, research groups at University of Washington, and conservation NGOs including Conservation International. Machine-learning classifiers trained on multimedia archives from the Macaulay Library and community sound databases such as Xeno-canto assist in automated identifications; integration with mobile platforms mirrors usability patterns from apps by Merlin Bird ID and field guides published by Cornell Lab Publishing Group.

Community and Outreach

The project fosters communities of practice through partnerships with societies like the American Birding Association, regional clubs including the California Rare Bird Alert, and educational programs at universities such as Cornell University and University of British Columbia. Outreach includes training workshops with organizations such as the National Park Service, volunteer-driven initiatives like Christmas counts tied to the Audubon Society, and social campaigns supported by media partners including National Geographic and BBC Earth. Citizen scientists contribute to local conservation priorities in collaboration with municipal parks, regional wildlife trusts, and international networks such as the Global Big Day organizers.

Category:Citizen science Category:Ornithology Category:Conservation organizations