Do you use eBird? Maybe you’ve heard of it, but you’re not really sure how to use it. Most bird enthusiasts use eBird to track and report the bird species they see in a particular area. But what exactly is eBird and why should you bother reporting the birds you see? More importantly, HOW do you use it? The app by itself isn’t self-explanatory, in fact the first time you download it and open it up you may wonder what to do. So let’s look at it a little more closely.
First, what is it? Created by Cornell University, eBird is the largest biological citizen-science project in the world, with the eBird community gathering more than 100 million bird sightings a year! It’s a powerful tool, helping you find birds and track your findings. Those findings in turn are used to empower a global scientific community in studying the health of a species as well as direct conservation efforts.
How do you get started with eBird? First, you need a login, so go to the main eBird website to create your profile. Then go to your phone’s app store and download the free eBird app, using the same login you just created on the website to also login to the app.
Now, you could just dive right in and start exploring, but we recommend getting a quick orientation, and this is where we’ll hand you over to the experts. Cornell Bird Academy has a fantastic free video series called eBird Essentials which shows you how to use eBird correctly, as well as tips and tricks you may not be aware of, even if you’ve been an eBirder for years!
Go to Cornell Lab Bird Academy and look for the eBird Essentials course. It’s free! You can watch the videos at your own pace, and once you’re finished, you’ll be eBirding with the best! Even if you’ve used eBird for years, it’s nice to have a refresher and learn about the newest updates to this powerful tool. Not only does this course teach you how to use the app, it also shows you how to navigate the eBird website, with an incredible amount of information on each bird species, when and where to find them, and how to track their migration.
While you’re in Bird Academy, look around at the other courses. For a modest fee, they offer online courses on everything from getting started in birding to refining your identification skills, learning about bird behavior, even a class in bird photography. It’s a great way to exercise your mind, grow your skills, and learn more about the birds we love.
As the weather warms and the birds become more active, now is the perfect time to improve your birding skills! Happy birding!
Submitted by Gina Sanders