USGS PWRC - North American Breeding Bird Atlas Explorer

Mark Wimer1, Annie Simpson2

1 Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 12100 Beech Forest Road, 20708-4038, Laurel, United States; 2 USGS Core Science Analytics Synthesis & Libraries Program, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mailstop 302, 20192, Reston, United States

Corresponding author(s): Mark Wimer (mwimer@usgs.gov), Annie Simpson (asimpson@usgs.gov)

Received {date}; Revised {date}; Accepted {date}; Published {date}

Citation: Combination of authors, year of data paper publication (in parentheses), Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue number (in parentheses), and doi of the data paper.

Resource Citation

USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. 2015. North American Breeding Bird Atlas Explorer. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm?fa=bba.Bbahome

Abstract

Online repository for archiving Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) data collected across the US. The database supports data from published atlases and also serves as a management tool for implementing these large-scale surveys. The shared data management system has allowed for cost-effective project implementation for agencies in many states. Currently the database houses 35 published and ongoing atlas projects. Data and maps from BBA Explorer have also been used in the preparation of breeding bird atlas books.

Keywords: Metadata

General description

Purpose: What is a Breeding Bird Atlas? A Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) is a population survey project designed to cover large geographic areas using a grid based system and is generally organized at the state or provincial level. Each participant in the project, referred to as an observer or 'atlaser', is assigned one or more blocks (grid cells) in which to conduct extensive area searches. They record any breeding evidence observed for each bird species; this evidence is categorized as “confirmed”, “probable” or “possible”. The results can be mapped and will then provide comprehensive information about the distribution of breeding birds in the region covered. For more information on BBAs see the North American Ornithological Atlas Committee (NORAC) website.

Project details

Project title: North American Breeding Bird Atlas
Personnel: Mark Wimer
Funding: Diverse funding from federal and state sources.
Study area descriptions/descriptor: See: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm?fa=explore.ProjectMethods&BBA_ID=NM2001
Design description: See: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bba/index.cfm?fa=explore.ProjectMethods&BBA_ID=NM2001

Data published through GBIF: https://bison.usgs.gov/ipt/resource?r=usgs_pwrc_north_american_breeding_bird_atlas

Taxonomic coverage

General taxonomic coverage description: Birds that breed in the United States.
Taxonomic ranks
Class: Aves
Common names: birds

Spatial coverage

General spatial coverage: The bounding box parameters are only approximate. Geographic areas that provide data content include: California (Solano, Sonoma, Yolo Counties); Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; District of Columbia; Florida; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Missouri; New Hampshire; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina (Mecklenburg County); Ohio; Ontario (Canada); Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; Vermont; Virginia (Loudoun County); Washington; Wisconsin; West Virginia
Coordinates: 25°18'0''N and 49°17'24''N Latitude; 126°22'12''W and 66°17'24''W Longitude 

Methods

Method step description: See: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/projects/nmbba/download/handbook.pdf
Study extent description: See: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/projects/nmbba/download/handbook.pdf
Sampling description: See: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/projects/nmbba/download/handbook.pdf
Quality control description: See: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/projects/nmbba/download/handbook.pdf

Metadata language: English
Date of metadata creation: 2015-03-19
Hierarchy level: Dataset