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Experiences with eBiodiversity:

birdwatchers’ and NGOs’

perspective

Uku Paal & Hannes Pehlak

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Bird observations in eBiodiversity

The database was opened for birdwatchers on 14.04.2011

Currently eB is the primary choice for experienced observers (from amongst 3 different databases)

156 000+ public observations added

200 registered users; about 50 active users; 6 admins

Older data sources

Several older data sources need to be digitalised and are most likely to be imported into eB. One project is currently running in the Estonian Uni. of Life Sciences – digitalising of paper catalog on bird observations compiled by Eerik Kumari.

Use of eB by bird monitoring projects

Application in progress:Phenology

Use agreed / interest by project coordinator:International Waterbird CensusCommon Bird Census (point counts)Breeding birds in bogs and mires; coastal meadowsEstonian Birdrarities Committee

Potentially easy to implement:Migration studiesBird atlas projects in futureWinter landbird countsNight singers

Use possible:Nest card project

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Birdwatchers’ perspective

Usability has to be easy but without compromising the quality of the gathered data

Observers want to see what others have seen and where (only excluding protected species) > Open access > More users > More data

Birdwatchers often gather info about other taxa as well (dragonflies, butterflies, mammals, orchids etc. ) > Very diverse and active group of users > It’s not good to lose them!

General public don’t care who runs the database until it’s working fine! Data ownership problematics are not for birdwatchers but for bureaucrats! Only few mind how and where their data is used (often the most productive observers) but nevertheless these issues must be handled with care and explained to database users in detail.3

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Technical problems indicated by individual users

•Creating account and login too difficult•Map usability, need for manual input of county and parish names•Slow uploading and query speed•Usage in overall too difficult; poor instructions

Estonian Ornithological Society as a key user/client

Communication with EOS over the EOS Bird Monitoring Committee

Pros: eB is free to use, professional backup and development. Potential compatibility with other databases (internationally) is an important bonus

Cons: Speed of development is hard to predict and influence. eB is said to be difficult to use for involvement projects (like Garden Birdwatch)

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Thank you!

Acknowledgements

Kessy Abarenkov, Urmas Kõljalg, Leho Luigujõe,

Mariliis Märtson, Margus Ots, Marko Peterson,

Tarmo Teppe, Tarvo Valker