Crowdsourcing for tracking wildlife and migration patterns

Although many individuals and groups log bird sightings, in isolation those observations have little value. When joined together on a shared platform such observations can be used to help solve “puzzles” about weather patterns, biodiversity, climate change and migration patterns. This idea isn't limited to just bird watching and could be scaled to help all wildlife.

I have this challenge

the problem

Nature lovers everywhere already capture images for pleasure, why not put those photos to good use? Sharing nature images on a platform where scientists can analyze the image can help track specific species, or understand habitats in general. Crowdsourced, grassroots approaches to generating insight into how wildlife populations are changing, can shed light on issues such as biodiversity and climate change.

ideas

eBird is just one outstanding example of how digital technology is transforming bird watching, and in the process providing a model for other citizen sciences to follow. The eBird system is collating vast numbers of bird observations: more than 48 million from roughly 35,000 contributors around the world. Those groups may have a regional focus (eBird Puerto Rico for example) or they may have more specific populations in mind (the Louisiana Winter Bird Atlas).

attributions

https://www.socialtech.org.uk/projects/ebird/

Emily Nelson

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-nelson-bbaba7183/

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