Updated: 10/04/2025 00:20:59
eBird
eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) is a global, free, checklist-based citizen‑science platform for recording bird observations. It combines web and mobile apps for submitting sightings and media, uses effort metadata and regional review to produce science‑grade data, and supplies tools for exploring species, hotspots, personal lists, and large‑scale science products (e.g., Status & Trends and abundance models). Data and media are archived and made available to researchers and conservationists, while regional portals, training, and community support help ensure data quality and participation.
Accessing and Downloading eBird Data
Researchers and the public can request and download eBird datasets and derived products; data access options include bulk downloads, filtered queries, and special requests for research use under applicable licensing and terms. [1]
Community Support, Help, and Funding
Support resources, help articles, regional contacts, and donation channels are available for troubleshooting, reporting issues, and supporting eBird’s ongoing operations and outreach. [2]
Data Quality and Regional Review
Automated filters, likelihood models, and regional expert reviewers screen unexpected records and high counts; this combination of automated checks and human vetting preserves data reliability for scientific use. [3]
eBird Mobile
The free eBird Mobile app (iOS and Android) supports offline checklist entry, media capture (photos, audio), and syncing to the eBird database, enabling field data collection even without network access. [4]
Explore: Species Maps, Hotspots, and Recent Sightings
Interactive tools let users explore species distributions, abundance maps, recent observations, and recognized birding hotspots and travel routes to find birds and examine spatial and temporal patterns. [5]
Getting Started and Training
eBird provides tutorials, documentation, and structured training (e.g., eBird Essentials) to teach new users how to submit high‑quality checklists, use the tools, and understand data conventions. [6]
Media and the Macaulay Library
Photos, audio, and video submitted to eBird are archived in the Macaulay Library, providing a curated multimedia repository that supports identification, education, and research with licensing options and metadata. [7]
Mission and Scope
eBird aggregates birdwatcher checklists worldwide to support birding, scientific research, and conservation decision‑making. It is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and serves as a public archive of observations and associated effort metadata. [8]
Personal Records: My eBird and Lists
Registered users can maintain year, life, and personal checklists, track statistics, and manage media tied to their records to monitor progress and participate in community challenges. [9]
Regional Portals and Local Partnerships
eBird works with regional organizations to provide localized portals, tailored outreach, and partnerships that adapt data collection and review practices to local conservation needs and user communities. [10]
Science & Conservation Outputs
eBird data power peer‑reviewed research and conservation tools such as Status & Trends models and abundance maps, informing species assessments, habitat management, and large‑scale ecological studies. [11]
Submitting Sightings: Checklists and Effort Metadata
Users submit observations via checklists that include when, where, and how they birded (effort data such as duration, distance, and protocol). Complete checklists are especially valuable because they allow absence information and robust use in analyses. [12]
References:
Additional Sources:
13. About eBird (overview and mission) [https://ebird.org/about]
14. Data download and access [https://ebird.org/data/download]
15. Data quality & regional review [https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000795278]
16. eBird Essentials training [https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/product/ebird-essentials/]
17. eBird home [https://ebird.org/home]
18. eBird Mobile support article [https://support.ebird.org/support/solutions/articles/48000957940-enter-sightings-with-ebird-mobile-]
19. Explore species maps and hotspots [https://ebird.org/explore]
20. Macaulay Library (media archive) [https://macaulaylibrary.org]
21. My eBird (personal lists and stats) [https://ebird.org/myebird]
22. Regional portals and partners [https://ebird.org/about/portals]
23. Science: Status & Trends [https://science.ebird.org/status-and-trends]
24. Submit sightings (checklists) [https://ebird.org/submit]
25. Support and help center [https://support.ebird.org/support/home]