Users downloading data from the AKN should adhere to our data sharing policy.  Please review this document and make sure to contact the primary data owners for permission, collaboration and review.

There are several scenarios where users will need to cite the AKN and its data resources.  See below for situations and sample citations:

Access to a single datasource (project) downloaded from the AKN web site. If multiple datasets are used in an analysis then each should be cited separately. Check each project's BMDR for more information about specific citation formatting.  If no specific recommended citation is available on the project BMDR then use the following format.

Citation Format:

Data Provider. Year Accessed. Project Name. Avian Knowledge Network. Ithaca, NY. <www.avianknowledge.net>. (Accessed: Date [e.g., February 2, 2008 ]).

Example:

PRBO Conservation Science. 2008. Point Count Database (Version 1.0). Avian Knowledge Network. Ithaca, NY. <www.avianknowledge.net>. (Accessed: February 28, 2008)

Use of AKN visualizations or output tools using data from multiple datasets. If AKN tools are used in your analysis the citation should be as follows.

Avian Knowledge Network. 2008. Avian Knowledge Network: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. Ithaca, New York. Available: <www.avianknowledge.net>. (Accessed: Date [e.g., February 2, 2008 ]).