Integrating citizen science and field monitoring to evaluate threatened birds in Austral Patagonia

FASOLA LAURA; ROESLER IGNACIO; BUCHANAN PATRICK IAN; GIUSTI MARÍA EMILIA; MARTÍN LUCÍA BELÉN; GORLERI FABRICIO

Ornithological Congress of the Americas

Congreso; Ornithological Congress of the Americas; 2017

Obtaining important data to develop conservation actions in remote areas requires great logistical and economic efforts. Austral Patagonia is one of the least populated areas in the continent, with few human settlements, where birdwatchers (local and visitors) are concentrated. In this region academic institutions and NGOs monitor threatened species, producing information available on open platforms (eBird). The goal of this study was to evaluate the state of information available in Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), comparing information gathered by researchers and independent birdwatchers. We considered three threatened species with existing projects in Argentina: Hooded Grebe (Podiceps gallardoi-HG), Ruddy-headed Goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps- RhG) and Austral Rail (Rallus antarcticus- AR). A comparison of the available data (detections) on eBird was performed, evaluating the proportion of researchers/observer detections and the geographic coverage of the data (quantity of locations and total area covered). Data generated by researchers was higher in HG (72%) and RhG (92%), but lower in AR (29.5%). The total number of localities was higher in the first two, HG (77/42) and RhG (22/7), and also lower in AR (8/10). Researchers data showed a larger area occupied by the species. While the increase in data available since the launch of eBird in Argentina (2013) is marked, it is still necessary to encourage observers to use free platforms. Encouraging researchers to upload bird checklists in open platforms as well as supporting birdwatching tourism would ensure robust information at low cost for agencies responsible for the development of conservation actions.