Birders increasingly use technological tools to locate birds, share their sightings, and keep track of their observations. The most widely used of these tools is eBird, a website and app that allows users to upload and track their sightings and see what other users have found.

It’s also a community-science tool that pools all the data, allowing scientists to study trends in bird populations, migration timing, and more. The third New York State Breeding Bird Atlas is using eBird to collect information about breeding birds throughout the state. Learn how to use eBird to enhance your birding experience and how to use it to document breeding bird behaviors.

Gabriel Willow is an educator and urban naturalist with a passion for birds. He leads tours and teaches classes for NYC Audubon, Wave Hill and others, and was the senior naturalist at the Prospect Park Audubon Center in Brooklyn for several years. He has led tours to all five boroughs, throughout New York and abroad. He co-created an innovative, interactive community science program and app called the WildLab.