EuroBirdPortal launches interactive real-time bird tracking map

The European Bird Census Council has launched an updated version of the EuroBirdPortal (EBP), an online viewer that provides near real-time tracking of approximately 600 bird species across Europe. The tool uses animated maps to show weekly changes in species distribution, allowing users to compare data across different years or time periods.

The system relies on a massive citizen science network, integrating data from 21 different ornithological portals, including eBird and Ornitho. Over the last decade, these platforms have collected roughly 750 million observations from approximately 200,000 professional and amateur observers.

Unlike traditional scientific censuses that focus on specific nesting or wintering periods, this portal allows for year-round monitoring. Gabriel Gargallo, director of the Institut Català d’Ornitologia (ICO), noted that the data is essential for determining if species populations are increasing or decreasing, as well as anticipating shifts in their geographic distribution.