DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkhz
title: North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Monthly Bird Survey Data (2017-2023)

description: Bird surveys are completed once a month by Cheadle Center staff and
 associates. Each survey starts 45 minutes after sunrise and lasts about 2
 hours. The survey has at least 4 experienced birders- 2 that survey the
 eastern side and 2 that survey the western route (exact routes can be
 found on ArcGIS online). Surveyors use a combination of binoculars,
 scopes, and listening for calls to identify species. A point is placed on
 the map to the best accuracy possible using the ArcGIS app field maps or
 collector. The survey is also set up to record the surveyors'
 location every 30 seconds as a way to track the survey route. When there
 are large groups of birds, 10 or more, an approximate number is decided
 between the two surveyors. If a bird is seen multiple times along the
 route, it is labeled a repeat. The two groups met up after the survey and
 discussed what was seen. Any birds that are expected to be a repeat were
 changed to note that they were a repeat within the dataset. Environmental
 data such as cloud cover, water level, and temperature are recorded at the
 beginning and end of the survey. This data is an aggregation that contains
 the number of each species spotted on site each month. If you are
 interested in the birds' exact location, you can download individual
 monthly data from ArcGIS Online.
description: Each survey starts 45 minutes after sunrise, and lasts about 2
 hours. The survey has at least 4 experienced birders- 2 that survey the
 eastern side and 2 that survey the western route (exact routes can be
 found on ArcGIS online). Surveyors use a combination of binoculars, scopes
 and listening for calls to identify species. A point is placed on the map
 to the best accuracy possible using the ArcGIS app field maps or
 collector. The survey is also set up to record the surveyors location
 every 30 seconds as a way to track the survey route. When there are large
 groups of birds 10 or more an approximate number is decided between the
 two surveyors. If a bird is seen multiple times along the route it is
 labeled as a repeat.
description: # North Campus Open Space (NCOS) Monthly Bird Survey Data (2017-2023)
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkhz](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.bvq83bkhz) A thorough data description can be found at [https://escholarship.org/uc/ccber_data_descriptions](https://escholarship.org/uc/ccber_data_descriptions.) ## Description of the data and file structure The data consists of only one .csv file. The following describes each column of data 1. Observation.Date: Date at which the survey was completed. 2. Year: Calendar year that the survey was completed. 3. Species: Species identification common name 4. General.Type:  Classification of bird type including the following types: 'Comorants', 'Gulls & Terns', 'Herons, Egrets, Ibis', 'Hummingbirds', 'Insectivores- Aerial', 'Insectivores- Terrestrial', 'Kingfisher', 'Omnivores', 'Seed & Fruit Eaters', 'Shorebirds', 'Wardblers', 'Waterfowl & Friends' 5. eBird.Group: More detailed classification of bird types including the following types: 'Blackbirds', 'Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Allies', 'Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers', 'Cormorants and Anhingas', 'Estrildids', 'Falcons and Caracaras', 'Finches, Euphonias, and Allies', 'Gnatcatchers', 'Grebes', 'Grouse, Quail, and Allies', 'Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers', 'Herons, Ibis, and Allies', 'Hummingbirds', 'Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens', 'Kingfishers', 'Kinglets', 'Martins and Swallows', 'New World Sparrows', 'Nuthatches', 'Old World Sparrows', 'Owls', 'Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies', 'Penduline-Tits and Long-tailed Tits', 'Pigeons and Daves', 'Rails, Gallinules, and Allies', 'Shorebirds', 'Shrikes', 'Thrushes', 'Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice', 'Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies', 'Vultures, Hawks, and Allies', 'Wagtails and Pipits', 'Waterfowl', 'Woodpeckers', 'Wood-Warblers', 'Wrens' 6. Count: Number of the specified species seen on that survey. 7. Substrate: Material or environment that the birds are spotted. 8. Repeat.Observation: wether this bird has already been accounted for in a different part of the survey. 9. Sex: Male or Female recorded if noticable. 10. Breeding.Activity: Noted if observed. 11. Slough.Water.Elevation.ft.: Water elevation onserved at the begining of the survey at Venoco bridge ## Sharing/Access information Georeferenced location can be found at ArcGIS online public repository and is downloaded separately for each month’s survey. Individual surveys are searchable using location_bird_survey_data_YYYYMMDD (ex. NCOS_bird_survey_data_20190826) OR location_bird_observation_YYYYMMDD (ex. CL_bird_observation_20200113). The survey route is also available on arcgis online searchable by using location_bird_survey_route_YYYYMMDD Links to other publicly accessible locations of the data: * Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration (ArcGIS online): [https://ucsb.maps.arcgis.com/home/group.html?id=5196673ce5ea4d68882435ddc2f8ae3f](https://ucsb.maps.arcgis.com/home/organization.html#overview)