Frequently Asked Questions

General eBird Questions

What is eBird?

eBird is an on-line checklist project where you can enter and store your bird observations in a central database, track your personal records, and share your observations with other birders and scientists. Read more about eBird here.

Why should I submit my observations?

Our knowledge of annual distribution, abundance, and movement patterns of North American birds is incomplete. By submitting your observations, not only can you keep track of the birds you see throughout the year from all over North America, but ornithologists can use your observations to help fill in the gaps in our knowledge about birds. Read more about why it's important to submit your data here, and about how scientists use eBird here.

Why is a central repository of observations important?

For years bird watchers have recorded their observations and stored them on bookshelves, in closets, or more recently on computers. Birders are able to use their records to look for interesting patterns or trends, but lacked an easy way to put their results in the “bigger picture." A central database of observations allows you, as well as scientists and amateur naturalists, to look at large geographic areas and address questions on a larger scale. All of the observers out there can contribute more data in the form of regular observations than any scientist, or team of scientists, could collect on their own.

I have years of observations stored on my computer. Can I upload them to eBird?

We have a bulk upload process that allows users to import digital bird records in two different formats.  Read more about importing data to eBird on the following pages:  eBird Import Data Process.

Can I enter my old data into eBird?

Absolutely!  Your old records help build historic perspective in the eBird database and give scientists the opportunity to analyze data over long time intervals.  Currently you can enter records back through 1900, if you have anything older than that contact us!

How will you use my observations?

Biologists are interested in knowing where the birds are throughout the year. From the data collected through eBird, we’ll be able to determine where each species breeds and winters, which pathways migratory birds use to get from the breeding grounds to the wintering grounds, when birds typically arrive in specific areas, and which species' ranges are expanding or contracting. Watching these numbers over time will show whether populations are increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable at local, state, regional, and continental levels. Once trends are identified, more detailed studies can help determine why they are occurring.

How will other "eBirders" use my observations?

Bird watchers may be interested in finding out which bird species occur in their local parks, refuges, or region, or where certain species are throughout the year. Using eBird's data analysis tools, they will be able to search the eBird database for information on individual species or locations. Your observations will appear anonymously on the data summary they requested, helping them answer their questions.

I saw lots of birds. Do I have to submit all of them?

If you didn’t record all of the birds you observed, or if you want to share only a few highlights, that’s fine, just make sure you enter “No” in the box that asks, “Are you reporting all the birds you observed?” Of course, we encourage you to submit all of the birds that you identified.

I don’t count birds. Can I still enter my observations?

Yes, and you should still answer “Yes” in the box that asks, “Are you reporting all the birds you observed?” enter an “X” for each species you observed. Of course, we’d like to encourage you to start counting! Knowing that a bird was seen at a specific location on a specific date gives information about the distribution, but not the abundance. Knowing how many individuals you recorded will help eBird biologists determine the abundance of birds.

Why was I asked to confirm an observation?

In developing the eBird project, state and provincial experts have created an estimate of the maximum number of individuals of a species you are likely to see during certain times of the year throughout the United States and Canada. Your observation exceeded this number, or you reported a bird in a place that it doesn’t typically appear. However, we realize that birds often show up in unexpected places at unexpected times, and sometimes in numbers greater than we expect. Therefore, when an observation that exceeds the maximum expected number is submitted, we notify a state or provincial expert for verification. You are asked to confirm the submission so we know you meant to report that number of individuals for the species you selected, and that it wasn’t merely a typographic error.

Submitting Observations to eBird

How do I submit my birds?

Observations are entered on an interactive checklist by clicking the Submit Observations tab on the main page. To submit your observations, we need to know how many of each species you counted. But first we need to know just a few other pieces of key information: where and when you were bird watching, and the effort you put into making your observations. Starting at the home page, click "Submit Observations" and you are on your way!

How do I create a new location?

Locations are created during the checklist submission process.  eBird is designed this way to avoid storing locations that lack data.  Thus, to create a new location simply click the "Submit Observations" tab and then choose one of the options below, typically the "Find it on a map" option, to create a new location.

How do I choose an eBird hotspot for data entry?

The best way to choose an existing eBird location is to click the "Submit Observations" tab and then choose the "Find it on a map" option.  Type in your county (US only) and state/province, and then choose your country.  The map returned will likely have a bunch of red markers on it.  Each of these represents an existing eBird hotspot.  Simply click on the red marker to see the location name, which will appear in the box above the map.  To choose another location simply click on a new maker.  When you're happy with your selection move on by clicking "continue." Tip: if you can't get the map to work, make sure you've spelled the county correctly, and if all else fails leave county blank and simply use the tools to zoom in to your location from the state level.

How do I use the mapping tool to plot a new location?

eBird incorporates the familiar Google Maps interface for plotting locations.  Users can use the "Where did you bird" fields to first fill in county (US only) and state if known, and then select a country to restrict the initial extent of the map.  Tip: if you have trouble, just try entering a state and them using the tools at left to zoom in to your place of interest. Once the map is zoomed in to the nearest possible extent your can click on it to plot your location, or choose an existing location by clicking either the red (hotspots) or blue (personal locations) markers.

How far should I zoom in when plotting a location?

It is critical that you zoom in the finest possible resolution when mapping a location.  It is important that your point falls where you actually saw the birds on your checklist, or where you started your traveling count.  For area counts plot the location at the center of the area surveyed.

When should I use the "Find it by city, county or state" option?

This option is a last resort to allow entry of mostly historic data where observers don't have the exact location covered.  It is critical to be as precise as possible when entering your checklist locations, and only use city, county and especially state, as a last resort when you don't have more detailed location information.  By entering data from more refined locations eBird analysts will be able to do more with the data, essentially linking the birds you see with the habitat they occupy on the ground.

What if I get errors with my latitude and longitude coordinates?

In North America outside of the far western Aleutians, all values for Longitude must be preceded by the negative symbol (-).  Thus a typical value for longitude in North American would look like this: -32.45674, or -32 45 56.  In South America, latitude likewise is negative south of the equator.  Be aware of the need to have the (-) symbol in order for our application to accurately map your location.

How do I know what format to use for importing my existing data?

eBird uses two published formats for importing data from existing spreadsheets.  You can learn more about these, and how to import data here.

When do I use "Casual Observation" as opposed to the other options?

Letting us know how you went birding is an important part of completing the data entry process. By filling out simple effort information we can learn more about the presence of birds in your area. For example, if you simply choose "Casual Observation" when in fact you did something more rigorous, we won't know because you are not required to fill out the effort information. You might have seen a Bald Eagle fly over your car on the way to work in the morning, which is truly a casual observation. This is valuable information. It tells us that a species was at a location on a specific date. On the other hand you might have seen a Bald Eagle while birding for an hour at your local refuge and you might have reported all the species you observed, but still selected "Casual Observation" as the methodology. By submitting a complete checklist of birds and telling us how much time you spent and how you collected the data, we can learn much more about the birds in your area. If you answer "yes" to the question, "Are you reporting all the species you observed," then you definitely didn't perform a casual observation! From this type of observation we can learn about the abundance of Bald Eagle relative to the other species on the checklist, and we can know how much time you spent trying to find the birds on that checklist, which provides information on detectability. Think about how easy it is to spot and eagle compared with say, a rail! If you still choose "Casual Observation" as the type of observation, these important data will not be included in many of our analyses and output tools. Be sure to understand the type of survey you're conducting, and don't be afraid to choose something more rigorous than "Casual Observation," especially when you are the ones doing all the work!  Read more about this here.

 

What do you mean by “effort” and why do I have to enter time and distance information?

Information about how much time you spent watching birds and how far you traveled will help us determine the relative abundance of the birds you reported. For example, finding 50 Black-capped Chickadees in 15 minutes while standing in one place indicates a much different density of chickadees than if you recorded 50 Black-capped Chickadees in four hours while driving 10 miles. Without the time and distance information, eBird biologists won’t be able to make a reliable estimate of density.

What if I don’t know one or more of the core fields?

• If you don’t know location, try selecting a broader geographical area. For example, if you know you were in the town of Cape May, New Jersey, but don’t know the exact location of your sighting, enter your sighting at the town level. The information won’t be as useful as information provided from a more precise location, but it will still be meaningful to eBird biologists and fellow bird watchers.
• If you don't know your exact distance traveled you can measure it using a suite of online map-based tools.  Try runningmap.com or http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ for measuring distance.
• If you don't know the exact area you can measure it by drawing a polygon around it using the online tool called Google Planimeter.
  
• If you are reporting only the highlights of the species you observed, answer “No” in the box that asks, “Are you reporting a complete checklist of the birds you saw/heard?” You can still enter the numbers of individuals of each species you did identify, but we’ll know that you aren’t reporting the total number of species.
• If you don’t know the exact number of individuals for each species, still answer “Yes” in the box that asks, “Are you reporting all the birds you observed?” You can enter numbers for each species if you have them, or "X" to indicate that a species was simply present.
• If you can’t provide effort information (how far you walked, how long you were recording birds) you can enter your observations as “Incidental Sightings”.

Where do I plot my location for traveling counts?

Plot your location at the mid-point of your traveling count.  eBird does not yet record tracks or directions traveled, but distance traveled is required.

How do I record distance traveled when I back-track on traveling counts?

Good question!  In this case the total time you spent birding is the most critical component.  You should only record the distance traveling in one direction, but you should record the total time you spent traveling both out and back on the trail.  This way you are sampling a distinct area over a certain amount of time.  Only record birds on the return trip if you suspect that they are new.  Be conservative!

Where do I plot my location for area counts?

Plot your location at the center of the area surveyed.  As of now eBird does not record the actual polygon of the area sampled, so plotting your location as accurately in the center of the area surveyed is important.

What does the question "Are you submitting a complete checklist of the birds you saw/heard?" really mean?

The goal of this question is to find out whether you are reporting all the birds you were able to identify to the best of your ability.  In other words, answer "Yes" to this when you are submitting more than just the highlights of your birding event, and you have tried to note all the species present. We realize that all birds are not identifiable, and user abilities vary, but you should always answer "Yes" to this question unless you have purposefully excluded some species (e.g., European Starlings, etc.) from your checklist.  You need not have counted all the individuals you saw to answer "Yes" to this question.  By submitting a complete checklist of birds and answering "Yes" to this question we can know not only what birds you saw, but we can say with confidence that you didn't detect a suite of additional species that might be present in your area.  This allows us to research matters of species detection, and to accurately map where birds are, and where they are not.

What if I don't know the age and sex of all the species on the checklist?

Don't worry, no one does!  This is merely here as a tool for birders who wish to record these things.  You can apply these descriptors to any or all species on a checklist by answering "Yes" to the "Do you want to add age/sex or species comments" question at the top of the checklist page.

How do I add comments about a particular species on the checklist?

At the top of the checklist page answer "Yes" to the "Do you want to add age/sex or species comments" question.  This will give you an additional data entry page that allows you to enter comments for any or all of the species on your checklist.

Does eBird record weather information?

We gather weather data from outside sources such as NOAA and other weather services.  As such we do not collect weather information in the database.  You can, however, put information on local weather conditions in the "Checklist comments" section of the confirmation page.

What does "Most Probable" vs. "Rare Species" mean on the checklist page?

eBird automatically defaults to a list of species that should be encountered at the location and date that you've entered.  This is the "Most probable" list of species you see initially.  If a species is not represented on this version of the checklist click the "Rare species" link in blue.  This gives you either the complete state or county list, and most birds encountered should now be present. 

What is the "Add a species" box used for?

If you can't find the species you're looking for on either the "Most probable" or "Rare species" versions of the checklist you can then use the "Add a species" window to search for a new species for the checklist.  Type in the species common name and click "Find it."  You will then see a drop-down list of possible results.  Choose the species from the resulting list and then click "Add to list" to add it to your checklist.  If you have trouble finding the species you're looking for try to be less specific by searching something like "Flycatcher".  You'll then see all the flycatchers in our taxonomy and you can choose the species of interest.

Do I have to count all the birds I see or is an "X" for present good enough?

Counting birds in important.  Your best estimate of numbers tell us infinitely more than recording an "X" for present.  An "X" can mean 1 or it could mean 1 million!  There's no way for us to know.  Your best estimate, even if off by a large amount will tell us a lot about the relative abundance of the species on your checklists.  We strongly encourage you to estimate numbers whenever possible.  Check out these two news items for more information on counting birds:  Bird Counting 101 and Bird Counting 201.

Why am I being asked to "confirm" records of birds I've seen?

In order to maintain data quality we have a series of filters in place that automatically flag records of rare and unusual birds--no matter who the observer! eBird flags records for review based on the values, or filter limits, set for each species in each regional filter (e.g., San Diego, California). If a count entered is greater than the filter limit set for a particular species in a particular month, the record is sent into review. Thus, a record of one Blackburnian Warbler in Ithaca, NY, in January would be flagged for review, but ten might be acceptable in May. We are constantly refining the filters, and as more data are received and we learn what people are actually seeing on the ground in each region, we adjust the filters as needed.

Records are typically flagged for the following reasons:

• Rarity-a species that is rare or unusual in the region
• Out of season report-a species is reported outside its normal date range in a region 
• High count-species count exceeds what one might expect to find in a typical day's birding in the region on a particular date

Read more about this process here.

Editing Existing Data

How do I correct a data entry mistake on my checklists?

You can edit any record you've entered into eBird by clicking the "My eBird" tab and then choosing "Manage my observations."  Next click the "View or edit" link next to the checklist that contains the erroneous record.  On the resulting page you can edit the existing effort information by clicking on the  "edit data & effort" link.  Likewise you can either delete an erroneous species or edit the numbers or notes associated with any species on the checklist by clicking on the appropriate link.  Once you're finished return to "My eBird" to review your handiwork.  Changes should be reflected immediately on your life list etc.

How do I change the location of an existing checklist?

You can change the location of any checklist that you have entered in eBird by clicking the "My eBird" tab and then choosing "Manage my observations."  Next click the "View or edit" link next to the checklist that contains the erroneous record. Then click on the link to "Change Location".

How do I change the name of an existing location?

You can only edit the names of locations that you've created.  Likewise, once a location has been accepted as a hotspot, you can no longer edit the name except in your version of that location, which appears in your "My Locations" list.  For personal locations, however, you can change the name by going to "My eBird" and then clicking on "Manage my locations."  Click "edit" next to the location you wish to edit.  Select the "Rename" radio button and then type the new name into the window that appears above the map.  When you're finished click "Rename."  You changes should be reflected in your lists.  Remember, if the location is shared among all eBird users, an eBird administrator must change the name.  Send corrections to location names here

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How do I move a location

You can only move locations that you've created.  Likewise, once a location has been accepted as a hotspot, you can no longer move it, only a hotspot administrator can change its position. To suggest a change click here.  To check whether your location is personal or shared, just look at whether the value is a "P" or an "S" in the "Type" column on the "Manage my locations" page. To move a personal location click the "My eBird" tab and then choose "Manage my locations."  Next click the "Edit" link next to the location you wish to move.  On the resulting mapping page, selec the "Move" radio button. You can then simply click on the map to reposition the location, use the Google search window to find an address or town or type in new GPS coordinates (click "search" to activate the Google search bar).  When you're satisfied with the new position of your location click the "Move" button. Note: you should always strive to be as accurate as possible when plotting a location.  Always zoom the map in to maximum level when plotting a location.

 

Merge a personal location with a hotspot?

You can merge a personal location, and all of its associated checklists, with an existing eBird hotspot by doing the following.  Go to "My eBird" and then select "Manage my locations."  Next to the location you wish to merge click "Edit."  On the resulting mapping page click the "Merge" radio button.  This will activate the eBird hotspots (red balloons) and display them on the map, as well as show you all your personal locations (blue balloons).  To merge your location with another existing location simply select the destination location by clicking on it. A message will pop up above the map that says "Merge all XX checklists with XX location?". If you want your personal location to be deleted after the merge (recommended) check the "Delete after merging" box. When you're satisfied that you've got it right click the "Merge" button.  Important!--This action cannot be undone!

How can I make a personal location a hotspot?

To suggest a personal location as an eBird hotspot go to "My eBird" and then click "Manage my locations."  Toggle the check box next to the location you wish to suggest as a hotspot and then choose "Suggest as birding hotspot" from the drop-down list at the upper right. Then click "Submit."  A request will be sent to the eBird editors to review this location as an eBird hotspot.  It should then appear in the hotspots list after being approved by a local expert.

How can I hide locations from the "My Locations" list?

To hide a location in your "My locations" list go to "My eBird" and then click "Manage my locations."  Toggle the check box next to the location you wish to suggest as a hotspot and then choose "Hide in my locations" from the drop-down list at the upper right. Then click "Submit."  Likewise, you can later choose to "Show in my locations" if you'd like to reinstate that location to your popular birding sites list.

Technical Issues--Yikes!

I forgot my user name and password, what do I do?

Don't create a new account!  On the sign in page choose the option to have your user name and password sent to your via email.  If you don't get the email perhaps your email is out of date, and you'll need to contact an eBird administrator for your information.  Do that by clicking here.

When I sign in nothing happens, what do I do?

eBird requires "cookies" to be enabled on your web browser.  Without these enabled eBird cannot create a "session" for you, which enables us to link your data to your user name and create lists for you etc.  Go to your browser preferences and enable cookies.  If the problem persists, contact us.

Some of the maps and graphs won't work, what do I do?

Although we make every attempt to support all web browsers, some obsure and little users browsers may create problems.  Likewise, eBird can only support browsers back through a reasonable period of time.  Please update your web browser to the latest version to take advantage of eBird's full capabilities.

What web browser works best with eBird?

We recommend using Mozilla Firefox with eBird.  This free software is available for both Mac and PC and can be downloaded here.  Internet Explorer is also fully supported by eBird.  Safari has some known glitches with eBird, but usually works fairly well.