Platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird encourage people to observe and document nature, but how accurate is the ecological data that they collect?
Platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird encourage people to observe and document nature, but how accurate is the ecological data that they collect?
In a new study published in Citizen Science: Theory and Practice March 28, researchers from the University of California, Davis, show that citizen science data from iNaturalist and eBird can reliably capture known seasonal patterns of bird migration in Northern California and Nevada — from year-round residents such as California Scrub-Jays, to transient migrants such as the Western Tanager and the Pectoral Sandpiper.
“This project shows that data from participatory science projects with different goals, observers and structure can be combined into reliable and robust datasets to address broad scientific questions,” said senior author Laci Gerhart, associate professor of teaching in the UC Davis Department of Evolution and Ecology. “Contributors to multiple, smaller projects can help make real discoveries about bigger issues.”
Read more at University of California - Davis
Image: Western tanagers are migratory birds that are present in Northern California in the spring and again in late summer. A new study shows that observations by 'citizen scientists' using apps such as iNaturalist and eBird accurately reflect bird migrations and therefore can be used in scientific studies. (Credit: Jonathan Eisen, UC Davis)
