Life histories of North American birds -- online

2007 Impact statement
  • Poole, Alan F

abstract

The Birds of North America Project supplies online access to 18,000 pages of life history information on the 720 species of breeding birds on our continent. These life histories include information on a wide variety of topics; distribution, behavior, feeding and nesting ecology, plumages and molt, conservation, and populations - to name just a few.

submitted by

issue being addressed

There are several million birdwatchers in the United States and Canada, as well as thousands of researchers who study birds. The BNA Online project provides this group with easy access to consolidated information on the 720+ birds species that nest on this continent. There is no other source for this information, short of exhaustive literature searches. We provide "one-stop shopping" for those who want a leg-up on key life-history information on North American birds.

response

By providing the BNA reference work online, we have expanded its subscriber base by an order of magnitude -- especially making it available to students at colleges and universities.

impact assessment

Benefits: BNA enhances college teaching, broadly in the life sciences (e.g., ecology, biology, conservation); many courses now use BNA Online in the classroom and for assignments. In addition, many state and federal conservation groups subscribe to BNA Online, enhancing their efforts to manage our nation`s wildlife.

academic priority area

topic description

Conservation

has geographic focus

funding source description

  • Unrestricted funds
  • National Science Foundation
  • Subscriptions

key personnel

  • Stacy O`born
  • Steve Kelling
  • Rick Moore
  • Paul Allen
  • Barry Bermudez
  • Dan Danowski

mission focus

From CALS annual faculty reporting. Imported on August 5, 2008