Date: 6/11/12 6:26 pm
From: Bill Hubick <bill_hubick...>
Subject: [mdbirding] eBird Support for IBA Data!


Hi Everyone,

There is exciting and very timely news from eBird. Hot off the press is the ability to display Important Bird Area (IBA) data using the standard eBird views such as bar charts. Here are two examples:


Bar Chart for Chino Farms IBA (all years)

http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=ibas&parentState=US-MD&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2012&reportType=location&ibas=US-MD_2924&continue.x=66&continue.y=9

Bar Chart for Assateague Island IBA (all years)

http://ebird.org/ebird/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=ibas&parentState=US-MD&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2012&reportType=location&ibas=US-MD_361&continue.x=84&continue.y=12

To see more, go to the "Explore Data" tab in eBird. Choose "Maryland" and then "Important Bird Areas in Maryland". Click "Continue".


Marshall summarizes nicely: "These data outputs are using the IBA polygon in GIS to draw on all data submitted from within
the polygon -- this differs from eBird hotspot summaries on those same
pages, which draw on data from a single point that is shared among
users. This means that these polygon-based queries are much more
comprehensive and solve the problem of having a birder visit [Assateague Island] [Bill's translation] and plot their own, personal point for the [island] that
never becomes part of the data output for the official eBird hotspot."

If anyone has viewed the large number of hot spots on Assateague Island, for example, let alone the countless additional personal locations, you can immediately appreciate the value. Now any location plotted in the polygon registers as part of the IBA data. Having this data so easily available to conservation efforts will be of significant value. Furthermore, this new support of the IBA program should increase awareness, which is required for the program to be successful. The more people who are excited about our most important bird areas, the more powerful our ability to rally and ensure they are protected.

A big thank you to the eBird Team for the awesome new resource!�

Please seriously consider a donation to support this extremely important work.

About the IBA Program:
http://md.audubon.org/important-bird-areas-2

Support the MD/DC IBA Program (click Donate!):
http://md.audubon.org/ways-to-help

Support eBird!
https://secure3.birds.cornell.edu/SSLPage.aspx?pid=1687

Good birding,

Bill


Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
<bill_hubick...>
http://www.billhubick.com