The Avian Knowledge The Avian Knowledge Network and some of the Network and some of the lessons learned from the lessons learned from the

birding communitybirding community

Denis LepageDenis Lepage

Senior ScientistSenior Scientist

About Bird Studies CanadaAbout Bird Studies Canada

National not-for-profit, established in National not-for-profit, established in 19601960

Conservation, science and population Conservation, science and population monitoring monitoring

Work with a network of nearly 20,000 Work with a network of nearly 20,000 volunteers to gather data through a volunteers to gather data through a variety of programsvariety of programs

Canadian Bird MonitoringCanadian Bird MonitoringDatasetsDatasets

eBird Canada: 3,0 millioneBird Canada: 3,0 million Project FeederWatch: 1,8 millionProject FeederWatch: 1,8 million Long Point Migration: 1,6 millionLong Point Migration: 1,6 million Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas: 1,4 millionOntario Breeding Bird Atlas: 1,4 million Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas: 0,5 millionMaritimes Breeding Bird Atlas: 0,5 million BC Breeding Bird Atlas: 0,2 millionBC Breeding Bird Atlas: 0,2 million Marsh Monitoring Program: 0,2 millionMarsh Monitoring Program: 0,2 million Ontario Nest Record Scheme: 0,1 millionOntario Nest Record Scheme: 0,1 million etc.etc.

Avian Knowledge NetworkAvian Knowledge Network

Goals of the AKNGoals of the AKN

Organize heterogeneous datasets Organize heterogeneous datasets on birds through a network of AKN on birds through a network of AKN nodesnodes

Provide long-term archive and Provide long-term archive and redundancyredundancy

Make those datasets accessible in a Make those datasets accessible in a common formatcommon format

Facilitate analysis and visualizationsFacilitate analysis and visualizations

Avian Knowledge NetworkAvian Knowledge Network

Approximately 100 million records Approximately 100 million records currently in AKN format (14 million in currently in AKN format (14 million in Canada)Canada)

Data standard called Bird Monitoring Data standard called Bird Monitoring Data Exchange (BMDE, an extension Data Exchange (BMDE, an extension of DarwinCore)of DarwinCore)

Additional extensions created for Additional extensions created for specific needs (banding, nesting specific needs (banding, nesting data)data)

Bird Monitoring SchemaBird Monitoring Schema Flat structure, and primarily for Flat structure, and primarily for

occurrence data, like occurrence data, like DarwinCoreDarwinCore Adds information about data Adds information about data

collection events (protocol, effort, collection events (protocol, effort, etc.)etc.)

Allows for inference about Allows for inference about absence absence and and relative abundancerelative abundance

Focuses on being able to answer Focuses on being able to answer specific types of questions that are specific types of questions that are relevant to our end usersrelevant to our end users

1. 1. AcquiringAcquiring data data

Feedback is key to success!Feedback is key to success!

2. Organizing and using data2. Organizing and using data

Ontario Atlas

BC Atlas

Qc Atlas

Mb Atlas

Maritimesb Atlas

eBird

Project FeederWatch

Etc.

Ontario Atlas

BC Atlas

Qc Atlas

Mb Atlas

Maritimesb Atlas

eBird

Project FeederWatch

Etc.

Ontario Atlas

BC Atlas

Qc Atlas

Mb Atlas

Maritimes Atlas

eBird

Project FeederWatch

Etc.

2. Organizing and using data2. Organizing and using data

AtlaseBird

MMP

BMDE Database

Data Portal

GBIF, AKN, DataOne

Analysis Presentation

3. Sharing data3. Sharing data There are many barriers to overcome There are many barriers to overcome

to have organizations understand the to have organizations understand the value of data sharingvalue of data sharing

Custodians see data as a way to Custodians see data as a way to enhance: enhance: recognitionrecognition, , controlcontrol, , revenuesrevenues

There are costs associated with There are costs associated with sharing datasharing data

They may want to ensure that they They may want to ensure that they are the ones to publish resultsare the ones to publish results

http://www.naturecounts.cahttp://www.naturecounts.ca

Avian Knowledge NetworkAvian Knowledge NetworkData Access LevelsData Access Levels

Level 1: archive onlyLevel 1: archive only Level 2: summaries onlyLevel 2: summaries only Level 3: raw data available by requestLevel 3: raw data available by request Level 4: raw data available by Level 4: raw data available by

request, plus occurrence data shared request, plus occurrence data shared with global networks (GBIF, etc.)with global networks (GBIF, etc.)

Level 5: open accessLevel 5: open access

4. Data persistence4. Data persistence

Data loss is potentially a massive Data loss is potentially a massive issueissue

Global data networks good Global data networks good redundancy, but may not offer full redundancy, but may not offer full data richnessdata richness

Other approaches, such as those Other approaches, such as those developed by NCEAS (EML), need to developed by NCEAS (EML), need to be consideredbe considered

There are lots of data out there!There are lots of data out there!

5. Data presentations5. Data presentations

Focus on reusable tools, such as web Focus on reusable tools, such as web services services

Based on a common data structure, Based on a common data structure, which makes tools easily usable which makes tools easily usable across projectsacross projects

Ideally based on open-source Ideally based on open-source solutions and common standardssolutions and common standards

Data presentationsData presentations