Hello and welcome to the blog! In a recent video on the @iKnowTamil channel, we took a fascinating journey into the world of ornithology, exploring a powerful online resource: eBird. This platform is a must-know for nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, and anyone curious about the avian life around the globe.
What is eBird?
eBird is a global, real-time, and online database of bird observations, providing scientists, researchers, and amateur naturalists with critical data for conservation and education. The platform is a collaborative effort, but it is primarily managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University, a world leader in the study and conservation of birds.
The video highlighted that eBird is an open-source platform, meaning its wealth of information is built upon the contributions of a worldwide community of birders.
Key Features of the eBird Website
The @iKnowTamil video provided a detailed walkthrough of the eBird website's core functionalities, demonstrating how users can explore and learn about various bird species.
1. Exploring Species
The platform offers two main ways to discover birds:
- Direct Search: Users can search for a specific bird species by name.
- "Surprise Me!": For those looking for a random discovery, this feature generates a random bird species, making exploration fun and unpredictable.
2. Detailed Bird Information
Once a species is selected, eBird provides a comprehensive profile, including:
- High-Quality Photos: Images of the bird, often contributed by the community.
- Conservation Status (IUCN): The video specifically mentioned the IUCN status (International Union for Conservation of Nature), which indicates the bird's risk of extinction (e.g., Endangered, Critical).
- Range Map: A geographical map showing the areas of the world where the species can be found, often marked with a distinct color like violet.
3. The Sound of Nature: Bird Calls and Songs
One of the most captivating features demonstrated was the ability to listen to the sounds of the birds. The platform categorizes these sounds into:
- Song: The more complex, often musical vocalizations used for mating or territorial defense.
- Call: Shorter, simpler vocalizations used for communication, such as alerting others to danger.
The video noted that eBird provides high-quality audio recordings, often accompanied by a spectrogram, which is a visual representation of the sound frequencies over time.
Contributing to the Global Database
The eBird platform is not just a consumption tool; it's a community-driven project. The video encouraged viewers to become contributors, emphasizing the open-source nature of the project.
Users can sign in and contribute their own observations, which helps scientists track bird populations and distribution. Contributions can include:
- Uploading Photos: Sharing images of birds observed in your local area.
- Recording Sounds: Uploading high-quality audio recordings of bird calls and songs.
The narrator humorously referenced the need for specialized equipment, like the sound recording devices seen in movies such as Dear Comrade and Petta, to capture the best quality audio.
Conclusion
eBird is an incredible resource that bridges the gap between scientific research and public engagement. It allows anyone, from a casual observer to a dedicated ornithologist, to connect with the natural world and contribute to its preservation.
If you want to see the full demonstration and learn more about how to use eBird, be sure to watch the original video on the @iKnowTamil channel: https://youtu.be/p9X7n308Kkg.
References
https://youtu.be/p9X7n308Kkg - Original YouTube video from @iKnowTamil.
https://ebird.org/explore - The eBird Explore page, as mentioned in the video.
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