Press Release
For immediate Release
 

3/13/2024

Issued by:
The Taiwan Wild Bird Federation
The Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute

1. Project a collaboration between the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute, the Taiwan Wild Bird Federation and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
2. Goal to map out distribution, breeding, and number of bird species across Taiwan by 2028
3. The inaugural project will use a citizen science approach to collecting data via eBird Taiwan
4. As of 2021, similar initiatives had been launched in 93 countries worldwide

In January 2024, The Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute (TBRI), the Taiwan Wild Bird Federation (TWBF), and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology officially launched Taiwan's first bird atlas project (known as the Taiwan Bird Atlas). Its goal is to complete detailed maps outlining the distribution, breeding, and number of bird species across Taiwan by 2028. Bird atlases are crucial for documenting and conserving biodiversity. Similar initiatives have been launched in 93 countries worldwide, involving over 600 projects and the participation of at least 380,000 people as of 2021.

The atlas project is done in coordination with citizen-science powered eBird. Launched in 2002, eBird is a real-time, online platform initially developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University and the National Audubon Society. It allows users to upload their birdwatching checklists and keep records of their sightings and places visited. Beginning in 2015, the Taiwan Biodiversity Research Institute and the Taiwan Wild Bird Federation jointly launched the eBird Taiwan portal. It has since become Taiwan's largest open data source for biodiversity, with over one million records as of 2023. Additionally, TBRI has developed an AI tool for bird sound identification, SILIC. The atlas project will build on these foundations.

Map of Taiwan Breeding Bird Data as of 2023

Organizers have already held preliminary events in 2023, designing various activities to familiarize Taiwan's birdwatchers and eBird users with the relevant methods for doing the data collection. Already, over a 10-month period, a total of 297 individuals uploaded 14,974 checklists, with the highest individual contribution being 1,525 lists.

Using the Taiwan Bird Atlas portal, viewers can see real-time maps showing the progress in each grid.

The TBRI and TWBF welcome all nature lovers who are interested in taking part in this milestone work to contact them to learn more. Those interested can also follow the eBird Taiwan Facebook page for further updates.

More information can be found at the following:
Taiwan Bird Atlas Portal
eBird Taiwan
SILIC Sound ID