Purpose of the Session

This roundtable discussion will raise awareness of the current status of eBird in the Caribbean and engage participants in identifying priorities and next steps for regional coordination, data collection, mentorship, and data quality. The session will provide an opportunity for conservation practitioners, community partners, and eBird contributors to help shape the future direction of eBird Caribbean.

Background and Rationale

eBird and Merlin are global initiatives led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and supported by a broad network of regional teams, institutional partners, and volunteers. In the Caribbean, the eBird regional team includes BirdsCaribbean and more than 50 volunteers who contribute to data review, communications, mentorship, and translation efforts. Together, they support approximately 2,000 monthly eBird users and 20,000 monthly Merlin users across the region.

In addition to supporting bird observation and engagement, eBird has become an increasingly important tool for bird monitoring, conservation planning, education, ecotourism, and community science across the Caribbean. BirdsCaribbean also coordinates a custom eBird Project for the Caribbean Waterbird Census, helping strengthen regional waterbird monitoring efforts.

As eBird participation continues to grow, there is an increasing need to strengthen regional coordination, improve data quality, identify monitoring priorities, and expand mentorship and outreach efforts. This session aligns closely with the conference theme, Birds, People, Prosperity: Harnessing the Caribbean’s Natural Advantage, by exploring how a coordinated community science network can generate conservation value and community benefit throughout the region.

Session Objectives

• Increase awareness of the current status and structure of eBird Caribbean
• Discuss regional priorities for data collection, coverage, and data quality
• Strengthen collaboration among conservation organizations, community stakeholders, and eBird contributors
• Identify next steps for communications, mentorship, volunteer support, and regional coordination
• Explore opportunities to strengthen long-term capacity building within the eBird Caribbean network

Session Structure and Format

The session will begin with a short presentation summarizing the current status of eBird participation, data coverage, regional coordination, and existing data gaps across the Caribbean. Facilitators will also provide an overview of the eBird Caribbean volunteer network and current initiatives, including the Caribbean Waterbird Census eBird Project.

The roundtable discussion will then shift to facilitated dialogue focused on identifying priorities, challenges, and opportunities for the next several years. Depending on participant numbers and interests, breakout groups may be organized around topics such as mentorship, communications, hotspots and site coverage, data quality, training, and community engagement. Each group will be led by a moderator and tasked with documenting key discussion points, recommendations, and proposed actions. During the final portion of the session, groups will report back to the full audience, helping to develop a shared roadmap and recommendations for eBird Caribbean for 2026–2028.

During the final portion of the session, breakout groups will report back and discuss proposed priorities, recommendations, and next steps for strengthening eBird Caribbean between 2026 and 2028.

Target Audience

Conservation practitioners, NGOs, government agencies, educators, outreach professionals, students, early-career professionals, ecotourism and bird guides, eBird contributors, and others interested in community science and bird monitoring.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness of the structure, goals, and needs of eBird Caribbean
• Identification of regional priorities for data collection, coordination, and mentorship
• Stronger collaboration among eBird contributors, conservation practitioners, and community partners
• Development of a shared roadmap and recommendations for eBird Caribbean for 2026–2028
• Expanded engagement and identification of at least three actionable capacity-building priorities for the Caribbean eBird network for 2026-2028