eBird is a unique database for the North American continent whose objective is to create a valuable source of information on the quantity and distribution of bird species over time and space.
Created in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, eBird is an online, real-time data sheet program that has revolutionized the observational data treatment in the international ornithological community. Its objective is to maximize the use and accessibility to the many observations made by amateur and professional observers, and to create a valuable source of information on the quantity and distribution of bird species. Over time, these data will become the basis for a better understanding of avian distribution in the Western Hemisphere and beyond. eBird also features other information such as bird news, photos, migration forecasts, etc.
The tool interface is user-friendly, it can be translated into several languages, including French, and offers different options for managing and viewing personal data (tables, maps, regional lists, etc.).
By using eBird, an observer can simply enter her/his observations during an outing (and even photos). The information is verified before it is entered into the database and local experts review unusual entries. Bertrand Hamel is the regional reviewer for Brome-Missisquoi.
The Regroupement QuébecOiseaux has signed an agreement with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Bird Studies Canada to set up a specific eBird portal for Quebec. All you have to do is register for free on the eBird Québec website. First regionally collected, the sheets were grouped in Quebec under EPOQ (Étude des populations d’oiseaux du Québec). The regional databases are now consolidated into eBird, a unique database for the North American continent.
For each club in Quebec, you can access the Seasonal Reports for the region. In the left-hand sidebar, first select the period and location (Dates et lieu). In the Effort section, select Par mois to access all the information for the chosen date range. In the Oiseaux section, under Palmarès, you will find the list of birds observed for the period, in alphabetical order (Select the appropriate column for an order by frequency). Under Espèces focales, you will find all the information on a particular species (in taxonomic or alphabetical order).