Introducing Maine eBird!

What is eBird?

eBird is an online system for recording bird sightings in the US and throughout the western hemisphere. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird’s goal is to maximize the utility and accessibility of the many bird observations made by recreational and professional bird watchers. eBird’s popularity as a way of keeping personal bird records has been on a steady rise. An online bird checklist recording system, eBird doubles as a personal bird records-keeping system, listing program, and resource for understanding bird distribution across the hemisphere. By entering and storing your bird sightings in eBird, you will not only be archiving them securely, but you will be combining them with the observations of tens of thousands of other birders to paint real-time pictures of bird occurrence across the hemisphere. Data exploration tools allow you to explore all eBird data on maps, seasonal bar charts, arrival/departure date tables, and other visualizations. Try it out by exploring questions such as: Where has Yellow-throated Vireo been recorded in New Hampshire?; How does Common Redpoll abundance this winter compare to last winter?; or What is the state late date for Yellow Warbler?

Many birders may not realize just how many groups have uses for their observations. A short list might include: other birders in the state and beyond; Maine Bird Notes editors; North American Birds editors; the Important Bird Area program; researchers studying climate change; a state game commission seeking information to support a change in status on the state endangered species list; or a group investigating the conservation implications of a development in a particular patch of forest or grassland. eBird provides a single data source for all these groups, so that all you need to do is to keep up with what you see (just as you would with your personal sightings database). eBird will make sure the use of your sightings is maximized.

What is an eBird portal?

The main advantage of Maine eBird is to provide a version of eBird that is tailored more specifically to Maine. The “View and Explore Data” tab and “Submit Observations” tab are quick-linked to Maine locations. The eBird banners and photos are of Maine species and, most importantly, the story content is controlled by the sponsors of Maine eBird. This is where you can get information on ways to use Maine eBird more effectively and other topics of relevance to Maine birders. Maine eBird joins Vermont eBird, New Hampshire eBird, and Mass Audubon eBird. It is important to understand that Maine eBird, New Hampshire eBird, Vermont eBird, and other state portals are completely integrated with the eBird system. Any records submitted to any eBird application are accessible and visible in any other eBird application, so it is okay if you move between one and the other.

In conjunction with the Maine eBird portal, we are revising several aspects of eBird. More specific filters will provide better data quality control, improved consistency in location naming will clarify locations across the state, and the eventual upload of historical data that will populate eBird with tens of thousands of vetted records from across the state.

Submitting your sightings to eBird

Setting up an eBird account is quick and easy and once you have one you can start submitting sightings. eBird’s system is designed to record what you see at a given location on a given day—somewhat reminiscent of the old fashioned field checklists for each day of birding at a specific place. By encouraging specific location information, eBird makes it possible to summarize bird data at a variety of scales: region, state, county, town, park, or specific location. Although eBird accepts more general locations (i.e., at county or state level), it functions best when locations are plotted specifically. Any sighting submitted will be permanently available via your personal observations list and will automatically be tracked on your state, county, year, month, and life lists—eBird will automatically update your county and state lists for you based on sightings you enter, even if you don’t know what county you were in!

The primary means of reporting to eBird is via the web interface. After selecting a location, eBird provides a checklist of likely or possible species to choose from, checks for typographical errors or possible misidentifications, and allows you to enter counts, notes, and comments with your checklist. By requesting effort information, it allows us to understand bird abundance, and by promoting submission of complete checklists, eBird can understand not only what species were found, but what species were missed (which gives insight on trends in abundance).  These data are then integrated with your personal records and lists and also with the master eBird database. If you already have a records keeping system, eBird provides a variety of tools to help convert your current bird records keeping system to eBird—eBird staff or can provide support to assist you with this.

Thank you for sharing your bird sightings and for your support of Maine eBird!