eBird and the data import tool

[Dave Slager]

Michigan birders,

Many of you already use eBird.  For those of you who do, you likely find it
very rewarding and fun like I do.  Most of all, eBird helps you turn your
everyday birding into scientifically useful information.  If you don't know
about eBird, you can read more about it here:

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about

eBird also handily and automatically keeps track of all your life, state,
county, location, year, and month lists.  You can even generate maps and bar
charts similar to those above for your own favorite birding places.  eBird
currently accepts observations from all of North and South America!

eBird even has a new "checklist sharing" feature.  If you go birding with a
friend or a group, you can keep just one checklist, and "share" it over
eBird with your birding partners.  Each person in the group can easily
adjust the checklist to reflect only his or her own sightings.

To get a feel for some of what eBird makes possible using your birding data,
try playing around with the "View and Explore Data" section:

http://ebird.org/ebird/eBirdReports?cmd=Start

Here are some links to specific examples.  The possibilities are endless:

All-time frequency bar chart for Wayne and Monroe
Counties<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=counties&parentState=US-MI&speciesCodes=&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2008&reportType=location&counties=US-MI-115&counties=US-MI-163&continue.x=60&continue.y=17&continue=Continue>

Carolina Wren distribution across North
America<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?cmd=quickPick&speciesCode=&bMonth=01&bYear=2004&eMonth=12&eYear=2008&getLocations=northAmerica&reportType=species&speciesCodes=carwre&continue.x=68&continue.y=2&continue=Continue>

All-time early arrival dates for Kent
County<http://ebird.org/ebird/sightings?locInfo.regionType=subnational2&listType=first&beginYear=1900&continuous=false&endYear=2008&locInfo.regionCode=US-MI-081>

Gray Jay map for Michigan
2004-2008*<http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?source=changeLocation&speciesCodes=gryjay&reportType=species&bMonth=01&bYear=2004&eMonth=12&eYear=2008&parentState=US-MI&countries=US&states=US-MI&getLocations=states&continue.x=56&continue.y=18&continue=Continue>
*you might need to click the "map" tab for this map to display

You may have noticed that some of the charts and maps have big gaps in the
data.  These gaps become larger the more you "zoom in" by space or time.
But you can help close them.  eBird needs YOUR birding data!   Most birders
have large amounts of bird observation data stored in spreadsheets, bird
listing software, or notebooks.  Did you know that eBird now has a data
upload tool?  Now you can quickly and easily upload your birding data in a
variety of formats (Excel or any other spreadsheet program, Birdbase,
Avisys, or Pocket Bird Recorder).  If your data is already in a computer
file, it might be quite easy to upload to eBird.  Read more about using the
data import tool here:

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/using-the-ebird-data-import-tool

I recently uploaded most of my own birding data from a variety of original
formats.  If you need help formatting your data, I'd be glad to help out if
I can.

Good eBirding,

Dave Slager
Columbus OH (formerly Grand Rapids, MI)
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