Australia

BirdLife Australia’s Board has identified a knowledge portal to inform bird conservation as a strategic priority. BirdLife Australia CEO Paul Sullivan supports eBird’s efforts and hopes to harness the passion and expertise of Eremaea eBird users to support bird conservation: “Eremaea eBird is a terrific user-friendly resource to enjoy and appreciate Australia’s birds. And, soon, you will be able to record and share your life list and contribute sightings to the Atlas for bird conservation, using a single interface.” That time is now here!

Atlas Project Manager Andrew Silcocks welcomes Eremaea eBird’s commitment to continue data sharing with Australia’s largest biological database, the Atlas of Australian Birds, supported by the birdata portal: “Real-time recording of birds and birding hotspots, with access to shared bird lists from around the world, takes citizen science to a whole new level. It is an exciting development that will dramatically increase the volume of records collected in Australia.”

Here we address how the two databases will complement one another, working alongside each other for the betterment of Australian birds.

Will the Atlas continue after the Eremaea eBird merger?

Yes, BirdLife Australia is committed to maintaining and improving the Atlas project. Plans are already in place to enhance Birdata — improving the data input and reporting facilities, as well as refreshing the home page. Long-term monitoring programs — such as IBA monitoring, group atlas sites and beachcast bird surveys — will be set up and promoted, and Atlassers will be encouraged to get involved.

What are the differences between the Atlas and Eremaea eBird?

Eremaea eBird is an enabling technology with a major focus on recreational birding, with observers entering the species they have recorded, often while travelling. Users are able to maintain their life lists and site lists, as well as find out what other people have seen at specific sites, both within and outside Australia. Recreational birding is also a vital component of the Atlas, but the Atlas is focused on collecting more structured surveys within Australia, using prescribed methods, including 2-hectare Searches and Area Searches, often involving repeat surveys at defined sites. The new Eremaea eBird interface for submitting observations allows users to input surveys that they have collected using these prescribed methods, which will not only contribute to the Atlas if they have been collected using an appropriate protocol, but also contributes to your life list!

Both Eremaea eBird and the Atlas surveys provide valuable data to feed into various conservation programs, such as the State of Australia’s Birds (SOAB), the Australian Bird Index and IBA monitoring. Because much of this evaluation relies on comparing standardised counts over time, we encourage Eremaea eBird users who want their data to feed into conservation programs to explore the program webpages and objectives, which will ensure that your survey data are recorded using a suitable protocol and will be useful for achieving real conservation outcomes. General data collected by both Eremaea eBird and the Atlas also have an important role in bird conservation — providing valuable information for environmental impact assessments, threatened species listings and recovery programs.

Will data be exchanged between Eremaea eBird and the Atlas?

Yes. Cornell University has an open data policy whereby anyone can access their data, other than for commercial purposes. We have already tested data transfer from eBird, and they are very cooperative and supportive of this relationship. All data entered through Eremaea eBird will be passed onto the Atlas. We have not yet set up a transfer link between the Atlas and Eremaea eBird, but we are in discussions with them — so watch this space!