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Deja Perkins on Gaps in Bird Observations
The importance of having more people observing birds in the places they live
© Dennis Church
For her PhD, Deja Perkins is studying datasets generated by the public, also known as participatory science projects. These projects include eBird, a site where anyone can upload bird observations. And they’re essential to conservation efforts. But Deja says that not every area is well represented in eBird, because right now the participants are predominantly white and affluent, leading to a gap in what we know about the diversity of birds in many low-income and minority areas. Involving a wide variety of people in reporting bird observations where they live could help close the data gaps and reveal where to put new green spaces for both birds and people.
Read the full Q&A here.
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Deja Perkins on Gaps in Bird Observations
This is BirdNote.
For her PhD, Deja Perkins is studying datasets generated by the public, also known as participatory science projects. These projects include eBird, a site where anyone can upload bird observations. And they’re essential to conservation efforts.
Deja Perkins: Scientists like me can use that data to understand bird patterns, movements, and we can have a better idea of where conservation is needed.
But Deja says that not every area is well represented in eBird, because right now the participants are predominantly white and affluent.
Deja Perkins: And so we're having a gap in what we know about the diversity of birds in many low income and high minority areas. Just because we don't have data on an area does not mean that birds do not exist in that area.
To close these data gaps, Deja says it’s crucial to get more people participating in the places where they live.
Deja Perkins: It's really important that we get a wide variety of people involved in not only bird watching, but in reporting that data, so that we have a better understanding of where birds actually are on the landscape, what areas they use, what areas may need additional conservation funds, and even where we might be able to input more green spaces for not only birds, but also people.
Today for Black Birders Week, the organizers are encouraging Black folks to get outside in their community for "Just Us Birding". Learn more from the full interview on our website, BirdNote dot org. I’m Jonese Franklin.
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Producer: Mark Bramhill
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Conor Gearin
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. CarolinaWren ML539621 recorded by Wil Hershberger.
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2024 BirdNote May 2024
Narrator: Jonese Franklin
ID# perkinsd-01-2024-05-31 perkinsd-01
Deja Perkins
Producer
Jonese Franklin
NarratorSights & Sounds
