We know that when you are all out collecting data on our beach-nesting birds, some of you also record information on migrating shorebirds at sites. When you do this, you are basically conducting an International Shorebird Survey. And if we are collecting the data, it would be good to submit it.
Submitting ISS data is actually pretty easy. The main things to know are:
1) Submit the data to http://ebird.org/content/iss/ instead of the regular eBird portal.
2) When you are out surveying, quickly note the:
a. Tide (1=high, 2=near high&rising, 3=near high&falling, 4=half &rising, 5=half&falling, 6=near low&rising, 7=near low&falling, 8=low, 9=unknown)
b. Disturbance (A=undisturbed, B=disturbed 1-2 times, C=3-4 times, D=5-10 times, E=>10 times, X=unknown)
c.And if you are surveying a non-tidal site, note the water level (N=normal, H=higher than normal, L=lower than normal, X=not observed)
3) When choosing the site in eBird.org/content/ISS/, pick the eBird Hotspot if there is one.
4) Enter the survey as a Stationary or Traveling counts.
5) If you encounter a large number of birds – say a flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers - and don’t have time to count each individual, estimate. When you enter the data, make a note in the comment section for that species that the number is an estimate.
6) Once entered, share your checklist with ctwaterbirds. This shares the data with the Audubon Alliance.
There are actually some well written – not too long - instructions at:
http://ebird.org/content/iss/issprism-protocols/
http://ebird.org/content/iss/online-data-entry-guide/
Thank you in advance for all your extra efforts!
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