I want to thank David for his work on trying to find a better way to exchange data between the MOU database and the eBird database. This is something I think both MOU and eBird share interest in. However, at this point, I need to ask that you not transfer data from the MOU database to eBird. The appropriate way to contribute data into eBird is by entering the data directly into eBird or to use BirdLog to enter data on an iPhone or Android. We also have upload functionality that is described in eBird. Data entry directly from MOU is not supported by eBird at this time.
We would like nothing more than to work with hundreds of organizations around the world that each have slightly different data input mechanisms.But this simply isn't feasible for us. We prefer to act as a centralized data repository, which benefits users (all records in one place) and provides the research and conservation communities with one place to go to access records from the birding community. Instead of trying to develop 200 different data entry systems, each slightly different, we try to focus on two or three and then spend time developing eBird for birders, and ensuring that data are available to scientists and conservationists. eBird data are very much being used by groups around the world. Here is a list of organizations that have downloaded eBird data in the last 60 days. Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Alabama Natural Heritage Program, American Birding Association, Audubon Pennsylvania, Biodiversity Research Institute, Bureau of Land Management, Centro de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas (CIEco), UNAM, Mexico, Federal University of Goiás (Brazil), Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), Great Basin Bird Observatory, International Shorebird Survey, Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Minnesota Ornithologists Union, National Phenology Network, New Hampshire Audubon, Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Placer County Community Development Resource Agency, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), The Nature Conservancy—California, Tulane University, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.G.S. Biodiversity Inventory System of the Nation, United Nations Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Universidad Tecnológica Indoamérica, University of California, University of Connecticut, University of Havana, University of Illinois, VertNet, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Woodland Dunes Nature Center and Preserve. This demonstrates just some of the ways eBird data are used for a variety of research and conservation purposes. Because of this, we require a bit more information from users than MOU has required. Of course, this benefits birders too. It's much more useful to know that a Long-tailed Jaeger was at Park Point, than somewhere in St. Louis county. We make a concerted effort to have accurate location, effort (start time, duration), and to know whether observers are reporting all species (for instance, is the reason you don't include starling on this list because you didn't detect any, or just because you hate them). While we thank Dave for his efforts, we simply cannot accept these data at this time. The data upload from MOU does not include some of these key variables and does not have the precise georeferencing system that eBird has. Ideally, we'd like for eBird data to be entered in eBird first, where the more specific locations and required fields can be quality-controlled and error-checked in eBird. Then, using the free "download my data" option, an export can be ported to MOU and displayed at the county-level or precise lat-long, whatever the MOU user community prefers. Alternatively there are mechanisms by which the MOU can download the entire dataset or recent data from eBird. Thanks for your consideration. Chris Wood eBird & Neotropical Birds Project Leader Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York http://ebird.org http://neotropical.birds.cornell.edu On Tue, Sep 18, 2012 at 12:26 PM, David Cahlander <[email protected]> wrote: > An experimental interface to eBird has been added to mou bird reporting. > After birds have been entered into the seasonal report interface, a button is > available at the bottom of the page that indicates: > > EXPERIMENTAL: To submit these sightings to eBird, click on > > Clicking on this button sends the report on to eBird. > > Everyone can use this interface but you must first have an account on eBird. > You can register with eBird at http://ebird.org. > > Since eBird uses a concept of birding location as "hotspots", the entry form > for seasonal reports has added an autocomplete field for "location". If you > are birding in Hennepin County, for example, type "bas" brings up a selection > that includes: > > Minnesota Valley NWR--Bass Ponds,44.84479,-93.23007 > > Personal locations can be added by typing in the location name > > Cahlander's House > > clicking on the button "Location" and selecting a point registers this > location as a personal hotspot for this county. This location is saved and > will appear when part of the name appears. (for example: type "ca") > > This is experimental, some problems may occur. Please let me know if you try > out this feature and if it is of any use to you. Be sure to report any > problems. > > Thanks. > --- > David Cahlander [email protected] Burnsville, MN 952-894-5910 > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
