Máistir Nádúraí: eBird Tip

7.06.2009

eBird Tip

Let's say you want to find out if a certain species of bird has been reported in a particular area, perhaps all the locations within a county. There's a way in eBird to do just exactly that. For this example we'll search for Savannah Sparrow in Dane County, Wisconsin.

Once you're on eBird, follow these steps:

1. View and Explore Data.

2. Maps.

3. Select Species and Continue (type 'savannah sparrow').

4. Change Location.

5. Select a region (Wisconsin).

6. Select a sub-region (Counties in Wisconsin).

7. Select "Dane" and Continue.

8. Wait for markers to load...

Presto! Now you can zoom in or out on the map and find out where other eBirders have reported Savannah Sparrow.

Bio:

Mike McDowell has been documenting southern Wisconsin’s flora and fauna since 1987 and began leading field trips in 2002. Prolific at Pheasant Branch Conservancy, other highlighted natural areas include Pope Farm Conservancy, Spring Green Preserve, and the Baraboo Hills. His nature photography has appeared in various publications, newspapers, magazines and was even featured on a Wisconsin Endangered Resources license plate, a Capital Brewery beer label, and a National Geographic publication. He began journaling nature observations on this blog in 2005. He's the recipient of the 2012 Bronze Passenger Pigeon Award from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or state to promote the field of ornithology. He was a finalist in Swarovski’s Digiscoper of the Year photography contest several times. His other interests include insect macro-photography (especially tiger beetles, treehoppers, and robber flies), fossil collecting, amateur astronomy, botany, natural history, and marksmanship with long-range firearms. Once a gigging musician, collecting Fender Stratocasters is a recently revived interest—most prized being a 1957 Vintage Custom 'Mary Kaye' White Blonde. A former IT Professional, he's spent the last 24 years employed in the sport optics industry and has more binoculars than you.