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figure 4

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click on the pictures to see them enlarged
(Cornell University, 2017).

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Apps in general- Apps have to be updated and maintained regularly. Many apps are out of date, implying scientists no longer use them. Many apps are also limited to specific locations/regions thus limiting the audience and data collection.
eBird- A separate app is required for a bird field guide; this could make identification more difficult. As with most citizen science though, it is recommended that users study the field guides before observation. The app alone can only allow user to analyze their own data not collaborate. The app only records counts; pictures and sound would expand the data collection capabilities. The massive amounts of data collected by this method is amazing, but a downside is that it does require lots of time and resources to analyze. This is addressed in the video above, and explains why many other apps are limited to smaller regions.

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How massive amounts of data collected by eBird are used and analyzed.

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Cornell’s eBird delivers insights from biodiversity data with Microsoft’s cloud

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Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society, eBird is a data analysis project working to inform conservation research and policy by combining bird observation data from around the world into one reliable, unified database. But synthesizing such large streams of data into actionable insights was taking too long.

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Citizen science is a great way to connect students with real science while still reinforcing curriculum content standards. The fact that birds can be found anywhere makes them ideal candidates for classroom use; students can make observations outside their classroom door or in their own backyards. With eBird students can gain access to data and work that the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has done. They can see meaningful ways that their data is contributing to the legislation, policy, and conservation efforts. The fact that this app allows students to keep track of their own observations, means they also have the opportunity to generate their own questions and find answers. Students can also use the website to access collective data and generate research questions.
Below are just a few examples from each grade level where e-bird could apply to standards (NGSS Lead States, 2013):
HIGH SCHOOL
HS-LS2-6. | Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.
HS-LS2-7. | Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.*
HS-LS2-8. | Evaluate the evidence for the role of group behavior on individual and species’ chances to survive and reproduce.
JUNIOR HIGH
MS-PS4-1. | Use mathematical representations to describe a simple model for waves that includes how the amplitude of a wave is related to the energy in a wave.
MS-LS2-4. | Construct an argument supported by empirical evidence that changes to physical or biological components of an ecosystem affect populations.
ELEMENTARY
K-ESS3-1. | Use a model to represent the relationship between the needs of different plants and animals (including humans) and the places they live.
5-ESS3-1. | Obtain and combine information about ways individual communities use science ideas to protect the Earth’s resources and environment.

More ideas specifically for eBird : http://www.birdsleuth.org/ngss-and-citizen-science/

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Apps allow for ease of access to citizen science projects. Smartphones are widely used, are a familiar tool, and allow internet access to citizen science apps (Dehnen-Schmutz, Foster, Owen & Persello, 2016). This technology opens doors and makes data collection simple.
There are many citizen science smartphone apps that are worth exploring for general citizen science or classroom use:
WildlifeWitness (reporting illegal animal trade), MyPestGuide (farming assistance), iNaturalist (general observation logging and collaborating), GreatBritishBeeCount (bee recording), ProjectNoah (general observations and field guides), eBird (bird counts)...

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Campbell, V. (2016, June 30). 9 Ways People Have Used eBird Data to Make Conservation Happen. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from https://www.allaboutbirds.org/9-ways-people-have-used-ebird-data-to-make-conservation-happen/

Cornell University. (2017) eBird (version 1.4.2) [Mobile application software]. Retrieved from http://apple.itunes.com
All images retrieved from my smart phone.

Dehnen-Schmutz, K., Foster, G. L., Owen, L., & Persello, S. (2016). Exploring the role of smartphone technology for citizen science in agriculture. Agronomy for Sustainable
Development, 36(2), 1-8.

Microsoft Customer Stories. (2016, September 15). Cornell’s eBird delivers insights from biodiversity data with Microsoft’s cloud. Retrieved February 26, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyLjAFz_xZ0

National Research Council (2010). Science and Science Learning in Surrounded by Science: Learning Science in Informal Environments. (19-34). Washington, D.C.:National Academies Press.

NGSS Lead States. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States (insert specific section title(s) being used if not referring to entirety of the NGSS).
Retrieved from http://www.nextgenscience.org/

Silvertown, J. (2009). A new dawn for citizen science. Trends in ecology & evolution, 24(9), 467-471.

Sullivan, B. L., Wood, C. L., Iliff, M. J., Bonney, R. E., Fink, D., & Kelling, S. (2009). eBird: A citizen-based bird observation network in the biological sciences. Biological Conservation, 142(10), 2282-2292.

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Apps in general- Apps allow ease of access; users do not need to carry notebooks or worry about transferring data.
eBird- This app works on or offline and can be synced later. It is well supported, available worldwide, and pairs with online resources. Data is therefore not limited to a specific region or country. Users can keep track, with GPS, the location of the sighting and quantity of all birds viewed, and access all previous sightings directly on the app. Since all sightings are stored users can answer questions about what birds are seen where and when, in locations that interest them. If a user notices a pattern this data could be used to help conservation efforts. The app also syncs user data with all other users data. On the website this data can be used by individuals, organizations, or scientists to make important conservation decisions.

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Birding, Citizen Science and Conservation with eBird App

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Birding, Citizen Science and Conservation with eBird App

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The eBird app is connected to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which means users are contributing to and can view large amounts of data. Birds are an ideal candidate for citizen science because they are found everywhere (Sullivan et al., 2009). Data from eBird is used to study distribution of birds and create predictive models (Sullivan et al., 2009).
Birds are good indicators for environmental health and can therefore be used in conservation efforts (Sullivan et al., 2009). EBird data has been used to label species as threatened, change local laws to protect birds, identify conservation areas, and much more (Campbell, 2016).
Ways eBird has been used for conservation

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Citizen science uses regular community members to aid in data collection. This allows for people to connect to science in a meaningful way (NRC, 2010). It also allows for large amounts of data to be collected all around the world with less expense (Silvertown, 2009; Sullivan et al., 2009). In order for citizen science to be successful and trusted it is necessary for data instructions to be clear and data collection easy (NRC, 2010).