Birds have a long and complex relationship with humans on many levels, from food to culture and myth. Yet over the past 50 years, wild bird populations across the continental United States and Canada have declined by more than 25 percent. eBird is one of the world?s largest biodiversity-related projects, accessible to both citizen-scientists and researchers. Data collected through eBird informs scientists on bird distribution, abundance, and habitat use both spatially and temporally. In this workshop, I will explain how eBird can also be applied at the level of undergraduate education to enrich students? understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of birds and their biodiversity. Participation in eBird enhances our human connection to birds. eBird was used as part of an online ornithology course at Saint Peter?s University to provide an outside-the-classroom field-based lab experience, but it can also be applied to general biology, ecology, or other field study-based courses. It can be used throughout a semester or for a single laboratory experience. Various aspects of eBird will be explained from data entry to use of summary tools such as bar charts. Ways to develop bird identification skills will be discussed. Participants in this workshop will be able to practice using eBird on their smart phones through free apps provided by eBird and the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, such as Merlin Bird ID. Global eBird data is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and their partners to inform and benefit the cause of bird conservation.
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