Other Occurrence Data

Overview

Occurrence data are records or evidence that a species occurred at a particular place on a specified date. Point counts, ARUs, and checklist surveys are all examples of occurrence data, but other means of detecting species presence exist. Such means include monitoring approaches where there is no specific taxonomic focus, specimen collection via local programs (e.g., Safe Wings Ottawa), GPS collar or tag information, etc. 

How and Where to Access These Data

Avian occurrence data, apart from point count, ARU, and checklist data can be found from a variety of sources. These sources include casual observation via tools such as iNaturalist, museum specimens, research specimens and data, incidental observation through monitoring programs, etc. These data can be accessed through sources such as:

NatureCounts

The NatureCounts platform hosts a diverse collection of occurrence data, from well-known initiatives like eBird and breeding bird atlases to many smaller, harder to find datasets like museum collections and historical monitoring projects. Importantly, NatureCounts shares all data in a standardized data format, supporting the interoperability of data from varying sources or collected using varying methodologies. Comprehensive metadata helps users make sense of the data that are available.

iNaturalist

iNaturalist is one of the world’s most popular nature apps. It helps people identify plants and animals around them. It is a digital tool (i.e., phone application and website) that allows people to contribute biodiversity observations to a central repository. Findings are shared with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use these data.

Motus

The Motus Wildlife Tracking System (Motus) is an international collaborative research network that uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals. Motus is a program of Birds Canada in partnership with collaborating researchers and organizations.

ABMI

The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute tracks changes in Alberta’s wildlife and their habitats from border to border, and provides ongoing, relevant, scientifically credible information on Alberta’s living resources.

WildTrax

WildTrax is an online platform for storing, managing, processing, and sharing data collected by environmental sensors for wildlife monitoring. On top of hosting ARU and point count data, WildTrax also hosts remote camera data.