The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s eBird platform is providing new data summaries that will help state wildlife planners assess the status of bird populations in their state, which is crucial for protecting species. A team of data scientists at eBird has created summaries covering every bird species in every state, available online for free. These summaries will assist states in preparing their federally required 2025 updates to State Wildlife Action Plans. The goal is to increase accessibility of eBird information for state agencies and regional conservation partnerships so they can efficiently target conservation efforts.
State Wildlife Action Plans are essential for conservation efforts in the United States and must be updated every 10 years. The 2025 updates will be the second major revision to state wildlife plans since 2005, and for the first time, eBird state data summaries will be used to inform the revisions. These summaries will help planners identify species in need of conservation and prioritize where and when to take action. Without year-round weekly bird abundance data from eBird, an important part of the conservation picture would be missing, as seen with tundra swans passing through Michigan as part of their migration each March.
The state summaries are updated annually with new population numbers from eBird, allowing planners to track trends in bird populations across the entire state. Planners can now see if populations are increasing, decreasing, or stable, and by how much. This information is critical for making informed decisions about conservation efforts. Plans are underway to expand this customization for Migratory Bird Joint Ventures in the U.S. and Canada, as birds do not recognize human boundaries and joint venture partnerships work across boundaries to protect bird habitats.
By providing these customized summaries, state agencies no longer have to deal with complex data and spatial tools, saving them time and money. Approval of State Wildlife Action Plans releases funding from the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program, which is used to proactively conserve birds and other species in each state. The availability of eBird data summaries will help state planners easily identify species in need of conservation and set priorities for conservation actions. The state planners have expressed a desire for continued support and updates to the summaries to assist in their conservation efforts.
The eBird data summaries will play a crucial role in assessing the status of bird populations in each state and informing conservation efforts. With the ability to track population trends and identify species in need of conservation, state planners can make informed decisions about where and when to take action to protect biodiversity. The ongoing updates and customization of the summaries will continue to support state agencies and regional conservation partnerships in their efforts to protect birds and their habitats. The use of eBird data will help ensure that conservation efforts are targeted effectively and efficiently to support bird populations across the United States and Canada.