Using the eBird App to Further Citizen Science Efforts in Bird Hunting Species

& Habitat Conservation

The integration of technology into conservation efforts has opened up new ways for citizen scientists to contribute valuable data that supports the conservation of wildlife and natural habitats. One tech innovation in particular, that is making waves in the conservation communities, is the eBird app. The eBird app was developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and launched in 2002 by Cornell and the National Audubon Society. The app has become a powerful tool that allows bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to record and share their bird sightings, contributing to a global database of avian information. This data is crucial for scientific research, conservation planning, and encouraging a more attentive connection with nature.

Modern challenges to land management beg the question, why aren’t hunters utilizing eBird to level up conservation, particularly in wetlands areas?

How eBird is beneficial in Conservation and Hunting

Birds are excellent indicators of environmental health. Their presence, behavior, and population trends can provide critical insights into habitat health, as well as inform population and area importance for migratory birds who travel up to tens of thousands of miles each year. For hunters and conservationists, understanding bird populations and their habitats is like fitting together the missing pieces of a 5,000-piece puzzle. eBird not only helps identify important habitats that may need protection, it also provides data for habitat use by migratory birds and waterfowl. This data is vital for conservation organizations and policymakers to prioritize areas for habitat preservation and restoration, as well as identify globally important bird areas and inform habitats that are healthy and suitable for hunting activities.

Knowledge of bird distributions and behaviors can inform sustainable hunting practices. Understanding migration patterns and population dynamics ensures that hunting or other activities don’t negatively impact bird species.

How to Use eBird

The eBird app has a user-friendly platform, making it accessible to anyone with a smartphone or computer, if you prefer to record your information in a field notebook, then enter it later-- Write in the Rain notebook, anyone?

To begin:

1. Download the App: The eBird app is available for free on both iOS and Android platforms. Alternatively, users can access eBird through its website.
2. Create an Account: Sign up for an eBird account to start recording your bird observations. Your data will contribute to the global database, supporting scientific research and conservation efforts.
3. Record Observations: When you spot a bird, enter the species, number of individuals, and location into the app. You can also add details such as behavior, habitat, and any notable features. eBird’s intuitive interface makes data entry quick and easy.
4. Submit Checklists: After your birding session, submit your checklist through the app. Each submission contributes valuable data to the eBird database.
5. Explore Data: eBird allows users to explore bird sightings worldwide. This feature is not only informative but also helps hunters and conservationists stay informed about bird populations in their areas.

eBird Data has Far Reaching Impacts

The data collected through eBird has profound implications for conservation science. Researchers and biologists use eBird data to track bird migration patterns, population trends, and changes in distribution due to climate change and habitat loss. Analyzing data from eBird has been instrumental in identifying key stopover sites for migratory birds, leading to targeted conservation efforts all over the U.S., but particularly here in Alaska as well. Many well-known migratory stopovers for birds are protected and managed just for that, all across the state including: Teshekpuk Lake, Homer mud flats in Kachemak Bay, the Copper River Delta in Cordova, Creamer’s Field in Fairbanks, the Forelands of Yakutat, Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge in Juneau, the Stikine River mouth in Wrangell, and more. Some of these stopovers are even huntable. Bonus!

eBird fosters a sense of community among bird watchers and could for hunters, too. By contributing to a shared database, users become part of a global network dedicated to understanding and managing bird species. This collaborative approach enhances the impact of individual efforts. Merging observation data from conservation minded folks who watch birds for pleasure, and those of us that hunt them, and also care deeply about their sustainability, could exponentially increase data abundance and reliability in the eBird database.

Data from eBird has been used in many conservation initiatives. The data collected by eBird users was pivotal in the creation of the Atlantic Flyway Shorebird Conservation Business Strategy. This comprehensive plan aims to protect migratory shorebirds along the Atlantic coast, ensuring their survival for future generations. You can use the data in eBird to promote ethical hunting practices as well. By understanding bird populations and their habitats, hunters can make informed decisions that support conservation goals. This synergy between hunting and conservation highlights the shared responsibility to protect our heritage of hunting in a natural setting.

With the collective efforts of bird watchers and hunters alike, and yes, you can be both - even at the same time - eBird affords us a unique opportunity to collect real-time data that drives scientific research and conservation planning. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter, a dedicated conservationist, or simply someone who enjoys observing birds, (you can be all three) eBird allows you to contribute to a global effort to protect our avian friends and their habitats.

Download the app, start recording your sightings, and expand your repertoire to support wildlife conservation through citizen science, all while you wait for shooting light.

Photos: From ebird app search. Cornell Lab of Ornithology and individual credited photographers.