Data Owner

California Partners in Flight

Data Access: Level 4

The data are freely available to all interested in accordance with PRBO's data-sharing policy.

Metadata download: sgml  html  txt

Data download: Database Query Tool

Abstract

Point count surveys measure bird abundance and diversity and can be used to measure habitat sustainability, population trends, and habitat associations in bird populations.

In many countries, point counts are the main method in monitoring the population changes of breeding landbirds. With the point count method it is possible to study the yearly changes of bird populations at fixed points, differences in species composition between habitats, and abundance patterns of species. The point count method is probably the most efficient and data-rich method of counting birds. It is the preferred method in forested habitats or difficult terrain. Point counts involve an observer standing in one spot and recording all the birds seen or heard at either a fixed distance, or unlimited distance. This method can be conducted one or many times at a given point. The North American Breeding Bird Survey of the U.S.D.I. Fish and Wildlife Service is such a method.

Purpose

Partners in Flight/Companeros en Vuelo/Partenaires d'Envol was launched in 1990 in response to growing concerns about declines in the populations of many land bird species, and in order to emphasize the conservation of birds not covered by existing conservation initiatives. The initial focus was on neotropical migrants, species that breed in the Nearctic (North America) and winter in the Neotropics (Central and South America), but the focus has spread to include most landbirds and other species requiring terrestrial habitats. The central premise of Partners in Flight (PIF) has been that the resources of public and private organizations in North and South America must be combined, coordinated, and increased in order to achieve success in conserving bird populations in this hemisphere.

The first action of CalPIF was to identify habitats important to birds. Following the guidelines of the International Partners in Flight "Flight Plan," habitat-based Bird Conservation Plans (BCPs) have been prepared, using data from point counts, to facilitate that goal by stimulating a proactive approach to landbird conservation.

Supplemental Information

The database is updated annually (after the breeding season).

Contact

• Ryan DiGaudio: CALPIF Coordinator; rdigaudio@prbo.org