ABOUT THE
PATCHBIRD
INITIATIVE
The PatchBird Initiative aims to establish a standardized and scalable framework for bird population monitoring by integrating citizen science with eBird and the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system.
BACKGROUND & MISSION.
Birds are not only among the most widely observed creatures on Earth – they are also among the most sensitive indicators of environmental health. Monitoring their populations provides an essential early warning of broader ecosystem changes, from habitat degradation to shifting climate patterns. Yet, by the time these changes become visible, we are often already responding to a crisis.
Conservation efforts frequently begin too late – when a species is already in steep decline. Only then are urgent actions called for, typically starting with a rush to collect data needed for grant applications and emergency planning. This reactive model is slow, costly, and often inefficient.
The PatchBird Initiative envisions a smarter approach: a proactive, globally coordinated early detection system built on structured bird monitoring. By integrating citizen science via eBird and anchoring observations within the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system, the initiative provides the foundation for consistent, high-resolution data collection across time and space.
Our mission is to transform everyday birding into a powerful conservation tool. By offering a scalable and standardised framework for data collection, PatchBird enables analysts and conservation scientists to detect trends early, respond more effectively, and shift the focus from individual species to the ecosystems they rely on.
This approach not only saves time and resources – it ensures that conservation actions are grounded in robust data and ecological context. The PatchBird Initiative exists to empower birders, researchers, and organisations with the structure and vision needed to protect biodiversity before it reaches the tipping point.
ARE YOU A TRAVELLING BIRDER?
Explore the
THE ROLE OF RELATIVE ABUNDANCE IN BIRD CONSERVATION.
The PatchBird Initiative centres on the use of relative abundance as a key metric for bird conservation. Relative abundance refers to the estimated number of birds observed in a specific area and timeframe, adjusted for effort-based variables such as time spent birding, distance covered, and observer experience.
Unlike absolute abundance, which requires intensive and often exhaustive survey methods, relative abundance is far more scalable. This makes it ideally suited to citizen science platforms like eBird, where structured observations collected consistently across time and space can reveal meaningful population trends.
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Identifying Priority Areas: Mapping relative abundance across spatial and temporal scales allows conservationists to pinpoint key habitats used for breeding, migration stopovers, and overwintering. These insights help prioritise areas for habitat protection, restoration, or long-term stewardship.
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Detecting Population Trends: When collected consistently over time, relative abundance data reveal trends in bird populations – highlighting declines, increases, or stability. These trends are essential for identifying species at risk and triggering timely, proactive conservation measures.
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Understanding Seasonal Dynamics: Seasonal shifts in relative abundance offer valuable insights into migration timing, habitat preferences, and species turnover. This information supports targeted conservation during vulnerable life stages, such as breeding or long-distance migration.
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Assessing Conservation Effectiveness: Tracking changes in relative abundance following conservation interventions – such as habitat restoration or predator control – provides a measurable way to evaluate success and guide adaptive, evidence-based management.
PROJECT
OBJECTIVES.
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Early Detection and Proactive Conservation – Establish a globally coordinated, structured data collection system that serves as an early warning network – enabling the prompt identification of population declines and supporting timely, evidence-based conservation actions.
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Standardized Monitoring Framework – Implement a grid-based monitoring approach using the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) system to ensure consistent spatial and temporal coverage of bird observations across diverse habitats and regions.
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Comprehensive Data Integration and Accessibility – Integrate citizen-generated eBird data into robust analytical workflows to produce high-resolution relative abundance maps and actionable insights for researchers, conservationists, and policymakers.
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Citizen Scientist Engagement and Education –Empower birders through training in standardised data collection protocols, with a focus on effort-adjusted observations. Strengthening understanding of methodology improves data quality and builds long-term engagement.
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Ecosystem-Level Conservation Focus – Use collected data to broaden the scope of conservation beyond single species – addressing ecosystem health, resilience, and habitat integrity, and informing more holistic management strategies.
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Efficient Resource Allocation – Leverage trend and early warning data to optimise the deployment of conservation resources, ensuring interventions are timely, targeted, and cost-effective.
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Ethical Data Collection and Broad Accessibility –Promote ethical data collection practices and maintain broad accessibility to data and findings, encouraging transparency and collaboration among researchers, communities, and conservation stakeholders.
Once widespread, now declining in parts of its range – the Vermilion Flycatcher is a reminder that no species is too bright to vanish. © Gyorgy Szimuly
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
The PatchBird Initiative offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to global ornithology by blending technology, citizen science, and conservation. Built on the foundation of the eBird platform, the initiative empowers birders and nature enthusiasts to document bird sightings through a structured, standardised method. Each observation contributes to a powerful, spatially organised database used by researchers, conservationists, and policymakers around the world.
Whether you're an experienced birder or a casual observer, your participation truly matters. Every checklist brings us closer to understanding and protecting bird populations at both local and global scales.
Why Participate?
Empower Conservation
Every bird you record contributes to a growing body of knowledge on species distribution, behaviour, and population trends. This data is essential for identifying species at risk and informing conservation priorities and strategies.
Learn and Improve
Participation helps sharpen your birding skills, deepen your understanding of avian diversity, and connect you with a vibrant global community. The initiative also encourages exploring underbirded areas, enriching your experience while expanding coverage.
Act Locally, Impact Globally
Your contributions not only support global science but also build a detailed picture of birdlife in your region. This can influence local conservation actions, habitat protection, and public education.
Be Part of Something Bigger
The PatchBird Initiative is more than a data platform—it's a movement. When you participate, you join a growing network of individuals committed to protecting birds and the ecosystems they depend on. Together, we’re building a legacy of knowledge, awareness, and action for future generations.
How to Get Started?
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Chose Your Survey Spot(s)
Participants are invited to suggest a general area where they intend to conduct their surveys. This could be your neighbourhood, a favourite birding site, or an area near your workplace. Based on your selection, the project coordinator will generate and share your UTM grid reference. -
Join eBird
If you haven’t already, create an account on the eBird website or through the mobile app. It’s free, easy to use, and packed with tools to help you log your observations. -
Start Observing
Visit your assigned UTM grid corner and conduct a 15-minute stationary survey following the PatchBird methodology. Use the eBird mobile app to record your sightings, including species, time, and effort details. -
Contribute to the PatchBird Initiative
Explore under-reported areas within your grid or beyond. Observations from these lesser-known places are especially valuable for building a more complete picture of bird distribution and seasonal movement. -
Share Your Checklist
Before submitting your checklist, add the project’s eBird username (eBirdUTM) to your sharing contacts. Share your checklist with us so your data is incorporated into the PatchBird Initiative database. -
Encourage Others
Inspire friends, family, and fellow birders to join. Your enthusiasm can grow the network and expand the collective impact of our shared monitoring efforts.
Your Role in Science and Conservation
Bird populations are under increasing pressure from habitat loss, climate change, and other human-driven impacts. By documenting the birds in your area, you contribute essential data that helps scientists track changes, detect emerging threats, and guide effective conservation strategies. Your participation has a real, lasting impact.
A Shared Vision
Imagine a future where bird populations are flourishing, habitats are safeguarded, and our understanding of nature’s interconnected systems is deeper than ever. By taking part in the PatchBird Initiative, you help turn that vision into reality.
So, grab your binoculars, open the eBird app, and step into the field. Together, we can make every bird count – for science, for conservation, and for the future of our planet.
DATA MANAGEMENT & PURPOSE.
All observations collected through the PatchBird Initiative are submitted directly to eBird, ensuring that data are securely stored, globally accessible, and fully integrated into one of the world’s leading biodiversity databases.
While PatchBird does not function as a standalone data repository, we actively engage in analysing the submitted checklists – focusing on spatial coverage, participant activity, species trends, and seasonal patterns. These insights serve several important purposes:
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To provide timely feedback and visualisations that keep contributors informed, engaged, and aware of their impact;
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To identify under-surveyed areas and guide future survey priorities;
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To highlight emerging patterns that may warrant further scientific investigation.
Looking ahead, we aim to collaborate with academic and conservation partners to increase the scientific utility of these data – supporting early detection of population changes and contributing to evidence-based conservation planning.
By promoting structured, effort-adjusted observations within a consistent UTM grid framework, PatchBird maximises the quality and value of every checklist – whether it's used for continental-scale analyses or as a reminder to each participant that their observations matter.
THE PROJECT INITIATOR.
Gyorgy Szimuly is a dedicated Hungarian ornithologist and conservationist with decades of experience in bird monitoring and citizen science. Formerly associated with the Bird Monitoring Centre of BirdLife Hungary, he has played a central role in avian population studies and survey coordination since the early 1990s. His work has significantly contributed to a deeper understanding of bird distribution and conservation priorities in Central Europe.
In 2014, he founded World Shorebirds Day and the Global Shorebird Counts, uniting a global network of volunteers to monitor and document shorebird populations across continents. His unwavering commitment to citizen science and collaborative research continues to inspire and mobilise birders and researchers around the world.
As the initiator and project manager of the PatchBird Initiative, Gyorgy is focused on advancing knowledge of breeding bird distributions through a standardised, accessible monitoring framework. His goal is to empower participants at every level to contribute meaningful data – primarily through eBird—that supports evidence-based conservation and long-term ecological insight.