Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society Chris Wood (Project Leader, Central US & Latin America) Brian Sullivan (Project Leader, Western US) Marshall Iliff (Project Leader, Eastern US) Unknown v2 database http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ http://www.ebird.org/content/ eBird, a project developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, provides a simple way for birders to keep track of the birds they see anywhere in North America. You can retrieve information on your bird observations, from your backyard to your neighborhood to your favorite bird-watching locations, at any time for your personal use. You can also access the entire historical database to find out what other eBirders are reporting from across North America. In addition, the cumulative eBird database is used by birdwatchers, scientists, and conservationists who want to know more about the distributions and movement patterns of birds across the continent. Various regional eBird clones exist (aVerAves, Vermont eBird, Mass Audubon eBird, Texas eBird, Bird Conservation Network eBird, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory eBird), but they all contribute to the cumulative eBird database. eBird's goal is to maximize the utility and accessibility of the vast numbers of bird observations made each year by recreational and professional bird watchers. It is amassing one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence. For example, in 2006, participants reported more than 4.3 million bird observations across North America. The observations of each participant join those of others in an international network of eBird users. eBird then shares these observations with a global community of educators, land managers, ornithologists, and conservation biologists. In time these data will become the foundation for a better understanding of bird distribution across the western hemisphere and beyond. eBird documents the presence or absence of species, as well as bird abundance through checklist data. A simple and intuitive web-interface engages tens of thousands of participants to submit their observations or view results via interactive queries into the eBird database. eBird encourages users to participate by providing Internet tools that maintain their personal bird records and enable them to visualize data with interactive maps, graphs, and bar charts. All these features are available in English, Spanish, and French. A birder simply enters when, where, and how they went birding, then fills out a checklist of all the birds seen and heard during the outing. eBird provides various options for data gathering including point counts, transects, and area searches. Automated data quality filters developed by regional bird experts review all submissions before they enter the database. Local experts review unusual records that are flagged by the filters. eBird collects observations from birders through portals managed and maintained by local partner conservation organizations. In this way eBird targets specific audiences with the highest level of local expertise, promotion, and project ownership. Portals may have a regional focus (aVerAves, eBird Puerto Rico) or they may have more specific goals and/or specific methodologies (Louisiana Winter Bird Atlas, Bird Conservation Network eBird). Each eBird portal is fully integrated within the eBird database and application infrastructure so that data can be analyzed across political and geographic boundaries. For example, observers entering observations of Cape May Warbler from Puerto Rico can view those data separately, or with the entire Cape May Warbler data set gathered by eBird across the western hemisphere. eBird data are stored in a secure facility and archived daily, and are accessible to anyone via the eBird web site and other applications developed by the global biodiversity information community. For example, eBird data are part of the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN), which integrates observational data on bird populations across the western hemisphere. In turn, the AKN feeds eBird data to international biodiversity data systems, such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). In this way any contribution made to eBird increases our understanding of the distribution, richness, and uniqueness of the biodiversity of our planet. 19000101 2009 ground condition In work Continually Western Hemisphere and New Zealand 160.00000 -40.00000 90.00000 -80.00000 None checklist bird movements range ranges migratory pathways wintering breeding arrival dates departure dates range expansions range contractions important bird areas population trends distribution migration None North America South America Central America Western Hemipshere AI Anguilla AQ Antarctica AG Antigua and Barbuda AR Argentina BS Bahamas BB Barbados BZ Belize BM Bermuda BO Bolivia BR Brazil CA Canada KY Cayman Islands CL Chile CO Colombia CR Costa Rica CU Cuba DM Dominica DO Dominican Republic EC Ecuador SV El Salvador FK Falkland Islands (Malvinas) GF French Guiana GD Grenada GP Guadeloupe GT Guatemala GY Guyana HT Haiti HN Honduras JM Jamaica MQ Martinique MX Mexico MS Montserrat AN Netherlands Antilles NZ New Zealand NI Nicaragua PA Panama PY Paraguay PE Peru PR Puerto Rico KN Saint Kitts and Nevis LC Saint Lucia VC Saint Vincent and the Grenadines SR Suriname TT Trinidad and Tobago TC Turks and Caicos Islands US United States UY Uruguay VE Venezuela VG Virgin Islands (British) VI Virgin Islands (U.S.) None spring summer fall autumn winter January February March April May June July August September October November December None multiple species birds waterfowl waterbirds game birds seabirds raptors shorebirds landbirds songbirds American Ornithologists' Union 1998 Seventh book The check-list is revised and updated on an annual basis by the American Ornithologists' Union. Revisions are published in The Auk. Observers have pre-existing knowledge of bird identification or they use published field guides. All species of birds. Kingdom Animalia animals Phylum Chordata chordates Subphylum Vertebrata vertebrates Class Aves birds None None Cornell Lab of Ornithology Christopher Wood eBird Project Leader mailing and physical

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.

Ithaca NY 14850 USA 607-254-2195 ebird@cornell.edu The best way to access data is via the Avian Knowledge Network where all data are made available for free: http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/ AFFILIATES AND SPONSORS The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, National Audubon Society, the National Science Foundation (NSF); Audubon California, Audubon Pennsylvania, Audubon New York, Audubon Vermont, Bird Conservation Network , Bird Studies Canada, Cerulean Warbler Technical Group, Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory, CONABIO, FERMATA, Golden-winged Warbler Working Group, Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, La Société Audubon Haïti, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Klamath Bird Observatory, Louisiana Bird Resource Center, Massachusetts Audubon Society, National Aviary, New York State Ornithological Association, North American Bird Conservation Initiative, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology, Redwood Sciences Laboratory Avian Data Center, Sociedad Ornitholigica de la Hispaniola, University of the Virgin Islands, Vermont Center for Ecostudies, Virginia Society for Ornithology, Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative, Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, and the World Birding Center. We gratefully acknowledge the efforts of the thousands of volunteer observers who make this project possible. The data are maintained in an Oracle database at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Macromedia Flash Player is needed to see maps or graphs on the eBird "View and Explore Data" web site. A link to the Macromedia Flash Player download site is provided on the eBird site. These data are collected by volunteers of varying abilities. Many steps are taken to ensure that the data are as complete and accurate as possible. After completing the data-entry for a checklist, a summary is provided for review. If anything is incorrect, the observer can go back and fix it. CONFIRMING UNUSUAL ENTRIES Various filters are used during the online data-entry process to check for unusual data. These can be, for example, a species out of its normal range or an unusually high count for a particular species. If an observer submits an unusual observation for the date and location, they may be prompted to confirm the entry. If it is a typographical error, they can simply correct it. If they are sure the entry is correct, they can check a box labeled "Confirm" next to the species� name on the checklist. These "flagged" observations are uploaded to the eBird database and are available under the View and Explore Data features that access the observer's personal observations. However, they aren't immediately available in the publicly accessed View and Explore Data features. Instead, they will appear on a password-protected alternate site where a local expert will review the observations. We've taken this precaution for two reasons: to ensure the identity is correct, and to be made aware that an unusual bird was present. In some cases the observation may be a rare sighting, in which case the editor will contact the observer directly via email for additional details. This process serves to double-check the identity, ensuring the quality of the eBird database for scientific use. In many cases an observation may be expected, but of interest to a local checklist committee. It may be flagged to alert the people who monitor these sightings and need to be alerted as soon as possible. In these cases, the observation will be "unflagged" without any follow-up contact, making it accessible to the public through the View and Explore Data features. not applicable There are four basic methods of reporting birds on eBird, each with a different set of required fields. Observers are allowed to enter data for all species they identified or for only a subset of the species, but they must indicate which it is. Locations are stored as latitude and longitude coordinates, but the accuracy of the coordinates varies. Observers can select a location from a list of predetermined "Birding Hot Spots" or they can enter the latitude and longitude directly, find the location on the eBird interactive map, or simply enter the observations at the state, county, or city level. Field None checklist sighting count area search Observers report the location, species, and number of birds they see and/or hear. There are four basic methods to report birds on eBird, each with a different set of required fields. The four observation types vary in the amount of effort used to make the observations. CASUAL SIGHTINGS: don't require any measure of time spent, distance traveled, or area searched. Casual Sightings simply denote that a given species was present at a particular location on a certain date. STATIONARY COUNTS: made over a known period of time, but don't include any measure of distance traveled or area searched. TRAVELING COUNTS: made when traveling a known distance and period of time while walking or using a horse, car, boat, or some other transportation. EXHAUSTIVE AREA COUNTS: made while thoroughly searching a given location or area. These counts are sometimes used by biologists when monitoring a specific site, but they can be appropriate for casual birding if the observer is able to estimate the size (in acres or hectares) of the area that is searched. Home, office, etc. None data entry Observations are reported by using the interactive online checklist. The checklist displays all of the species on the version that is selected (Most Probable or Full), sorted in the order that is selected (Taxonomic or Alphabetic). For each species that is identified, the number of individuals that were counted is entered. If a count or estimate was not obtained, an �X� indicates that it was present. After completing the checklist, a summary is provided for review. If anything is incorrect, the observer can go back and fix it. Once the checklist looks OK, it is submitted and is immediately available using the View and Explore Data features. No process steps have been described for this data set Unknown Observers can select their locations from a list of "Birding Hot Spots" or they can enter the latitude and longitude directly, find the location on the eBird interactive map, or simply enter the observations at the state, county, or city level. Point 0.001 0.001 Decimal degrees Location Where birds were observed none Location Name Name of location none Predefined by Lab of Ornithology or given by observer Latitude Latitude in decimal degrees none 0 90 Longitude Longitude in decimal degrees none -180 0 Observation Type Type of observation being reported none Observation Type Type of observation being reported none Casual Observation Protocol Code: P20. Denotes that a given species was present at a particular location on a certain date. Cornell Lab of Ornithology Stationary Count Protocol Code: P21. A count made over a known period of time, but not including any measure of distance traveled or area searched. Cornell Lab of Ornithology Traveling Count Protocol Code: P22. A count made when traveling a known distance and period of time. Cornell Lab of Ornithology Exhaustive Area Count Protocol Code: P23. A count made while thoroughly searching a given location or area. Cornell Lab of Ornithology Date Date of observation. none Month Month of observation none January self-evident none February self-evident none March self-evident none April self-evident none May self-evident none June self-evident none July self-evident none August self-evident none September self-evident none October self-evident none November self-evident none December self-evident none Day Day of Observation none 1 31 Year Year of Observation none 1900 2006 Effort Effort spent identifying and counting birds. none Start Time Hour Start time hour. none 1 12 AM or PM Start Time Minute Start time minute. none 0 59 Duration Hours Duration of count (hours). none 0 24 Duration Minutes Duration of count (minutes). none 0 59 Distance Covered Distance covered during count. none 0 1000 miles or kilometers Number of People in Your Birding Party. Number of people in the birding group. none 1 100 Area Covered Area covered while counting. none 0 1000 acres or hectares Observation What was seen or heard. none Reporting All Species Identified? Are you reporting all the species you identified? none Yes self-evident none No self-evident none Species Bird species observed. none name or code Count Number of birds counted. none Actual number seen or heard, or 'X' to indicate presence. Comments Optional free text comments added to the observation. none Comments Optional free text comments added to the observation. none Free text comments. The minimum data fields collected are location, observation type, date, if reporting on all species identified, species name, and count (or presence). Locations are given a name and are also stored as latitude and longitude coordinates. Observers can select a location from a list of predetermined "Birding Hot Spots" or they can enter the latitude and longitude directly, find the location on the eBird interactive map, or simply enter the observations at the state, county, or city level. Depending on the observation type, other data fields are required. There are four observation types that vary in the amount of effort used to make the observations. Casual Observation (Required: date) Stationary Count (Required: date, start time, duration) Traveling Count (Required: date, start time, duration, distance covered) Exhaustive Area Count (Required: date, start time, duration, area covered) unknown Cornell Lab of Ornithology Tim Levatich Database Administrator mailing and physical

159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.

Ithaca NY 14850 USA 607-254-2113 tpl10@cornell.edu The preferred access point to all eBird data is the Avian Knowledge Network where all data collected by eBird may be downloaded. http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/ eBird No warranty, expressed or implied, is made regarding the accuracy or utility of these data. website http://www.ebird.org/go/eBirdReports?cmd=Start Macromedia Flash Player is needed to see maps or graphs on the eBird "View and Explore Data" web site. A link to the Macromedia Flash Player download site is provided on the eBird site. None The eBird database can be explored on the eBird web site. Data can be viewed by species or by location (for example, state, county, or bird conservation region). Tables can be created by using all eBird observations summarized by week, month, or year. An interactive mapping tool is also available. Interested partes can also download raw data from the Avian Knowledge Network. http://www.avianknowledge.net/content/ Please contact the distributor to order eBird data. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) mailing

GBIF Secretariat, Universitetsparken 15, DK-2100

Copenhagen unknown unknown Denmark +45 35 32 14 70 +45 35 32 14 80 gbif@gbif.org URL: http://www.gbif.org/ AKN - EBIRD Data These data are made available through the Avian Knowledge Network, a National Science Foundation funded project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Department of Computer Science at Cornell University. No warranty either expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy of these data. website http://www.gbif.org/ Some eBird data are available for viewing or downloading via the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. None 20080826 Christopher Wood Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology mailing and physical

159 Sapsucker Woods Road

Ithaca NY 14850 USA 607-254-2195 clw376@cornell.edu E-Mail is preferred FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999