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