Photos by Peter LaTourrette and PRBO
The California Avian Data Center (CADC) User Survey:
Results and Trends
The CADC Development Team, PRBO
July 30, 2008
PRBO – Our Mission
Working to conserve
birds, other wildlife
and their ecosystems
through innovative
scientific research
and outreach.
Original drawing by Sophie WebbAmerican Redstart, Blue-winged Teal,
Black-necked Stilt, Black Tern.
CADC Survey: In the Beginning
• CADC 1.0 released
http://www.prbo.org/cadc
• Developed survey
• Online and In-person
CADC Survey: In the Beginning
• Learn about CADC users
• Who are they?
• What are their needs?
CADC Survey: Contact List
• 161 contacts
• Variety of CA Stakeholders
• 18% Federal Agencies
• 18% Conservation Groups
• 15% Academic Institutions
CADC Survey: Structure
• 19 questions
• Anonymous*
• Takes less than 10 minutes
CADC Survey: Email Invitation
• Segmented contacts into two lists:
1 GB, 1 non-GB
• Used Constant Contact email program
• Sent HTML email
• Re-sent email to unopeneds
CADC Survey: Email Invitation
• High open rates: 55% GB, 42% non-GB
• Note “Personalization Effect”: open rates
• Negligible bounce rate
• No spam complaints
Success!
CADC Survey: Who took it?
• 58 started the survey
• 51 completed the survey
• Almost 40%: Federal Agencies
• Conservation Districts
• State Agencies
Organization Types Represented
County/Local Agency
4%
Other NGO
4%
Academic Institution
4%
Land Trust/Conservancy
8%
Federal Agency
37%
Conservation Group
11%
State Agency
15%
Conservation District
17%
CADC Survey: Job Title
Citizen Scientist
2%
Stewardship Mgr or
Director
2%
Habitat/Land Manager
9%
Executive Director/Agency
Lead
11%
Program/Project Manager
42%
Scientist
34%
Jo
de
CA
7
M
od
oc
8
M
oj
av
e
ut
si
8
O
Co
as
t
at
h
9
So
ut
h
am
9
Kl
er
t
10
D
es
y
A
Va
lle
C
10
ad
o
aq
ui
n
e
sh
or
11
Co
lo
r
Sa
n
ff
Si
er
ra
y
Va
lle
15
O
en
to
lC
oa
st
20
Sa
cr
am
tr
a
D
el
ta
30
Ce
n
Ba
y
# of Responses
CADC Survey: Bioregions Studied
35
Total Voters: 53
29
total votes: 134
25
20
13
6
5
4
0
ub
cr
C
13
Al
pi
ne
sh
s
37
Sa
ge
br
u
er
t
e
s
15
D
es
M
ar
in
st
Fo
re
ha
pp
ar
al
30
ro
us
&
Ti
da
l
et
la
nd
/
ra
ss
la
nd
s
dl
an
ds
35
Co
ni
fe
al
S
W
G
W
oo
an
40
Co
as
t
ak
O
Ri
pa
ri
# of responses
CADC Survey: Ecosystems Studied
45
41
39
Total Voters: 53
total votes: 251
32
28
26
25
20
15
13
10
7
5
0
CADC Survey: Geographic Units Used
40
Total Voters: 53
36
35
total votes: 146
34
30
25
# of responses
25
22
19
20
15
10
10
5
0
Watersheds
Parcels/Properties
Counties
Management Zones
Bioregions
Statewide
CADC Survey: Were You Previously Familiar with CADC?
• Most were not familiar with CADC
(60% no, 40% yes)
Once a month
7%
More than once a month
14%
Of those who visited in the past:
• 79% visited site a few times per year or less
• 14% visited > 1x/month (8 people)
• 7% visited once a month (4 people)
1 or 2X Per Year
58%
A few times a year
21%
CADC Survey: Why you visited the site in the past
9
8
8
Total Voters: 53
total votes: 29
7
# of respondents
6
5
5
5
5
4
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
See what it
was & how
organized
querying data
& downloading
raw data
Database
design &
interface
concepts
0
General CA
Bird info
Interactive
maps & Apps
Learn field
research
methods
Download field
Enter field
research
research data
materials
CADC Survey: How do you need or use avian science information?
Most respondents believe:
• Birds are important indicators of
ecosystem health (98%)
• Information about birds is critical to
their work (80%)
CADC Survey: How do you need or use avian science information?
Most respondents:
• Would like better access to bird info
(90%)
• Would like to use more bird
information
and:
• Less than 1/2 use bird info “most
days”
Which factors are extremely important in conservation decisions?
Over 1/3 said:
• Bird population trends
(both current and predicted)
• Species distributions
(both current and predicted)
• Biodiversity
(to a lesser extent)
re
d
ict
d
-s
p
ec
Pe
R
aw
ec
i
O
m
es
n
iv
tio
n
D
at
a
ts
ss
rip
us
c
s
an
s
ne
pl
pl
an
ity
ng
e
e
ist
er
s
ha
ich
an
D
ds
ha
ng
ns
R
er
va
bs
we
d
Sp
co
at
io
rv
Bi
od
ta
t
ns
e
ha
bi
ie
er
-re
v
id
e
C
af
te
rC
te
r
es
Tr
en
ci
Po
p
Sp
e
af
nd
s
ist
co
Tr
e
D
nt
Bi
rd
ur
re
es
C
ific
St
at
ew
Si
te
ec
i
Po
p
Sp
Bi
rd
ict
e
ed
Pr
ed
Relative Importance of Factors to Conservation Decisions
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
Not Important
Neither Important nor Unimportant
50%
Important
Very Imp't
40%
Extremely Imp't
30%
20%
10%
0%
Birds of Greatest Interest
• Threatened and endangered birds
• Species of special concern
• Landbirds
• Raptors
• Songbirds
Th
of
er
Bi
s
rd
25
e
s
34
M
ar
in
eb
ird
Sh
or
ds
s
al
)
Ra
pt
or
(g
en
35
35
So
ng
bi
r
s
s
rn
Co
nc
e
Bi
rd
40
rd
Sp
ec
ia
l
ed
40
La
nd
bi
ie
s
Sp
ec
d/
En
da
ng
er
re
at
en
e
# responses
Birds of Greatest Interest: Chart
45
39
Total Voters: 47
total votes: 219
31
30
24
20
16
15
10
5
0
Threats of Greatest Concern
45
Total Voters: 47
40
total votes: 118
40
35
31
# of responses
30
24
25
23
20
15
10
5
0
Habitat Degradation (manmade changes)
Invasive species
encroachment
Natural environmental
changes
Climate-induced changes
Impacts and Relationships
Impacts and Relationships
CONTAMINANTS (e.g. mercury)
HUMAN DISTURBANCE on SFBay species & seabird colonies
INTERRUPTION of Migratory Bird Paths
URBAN & FRAGMENTED HABITATS on breeding success
Impacts and Relationships
Where are the PREDATORS (e.g. Corvids) located?
Impact of EXOTIC SPECIES
Impact of GULLS and RAPTORS on SFBay species
General RELATIONSHIPS between Bird Species
Impacts and Relationships
Effects of EXOTIC SPECIES
Important BIRD/PLANT relationships
Species type needs what VEGETATION TYPE?
(Manual of CA Vegetation)
Impacts and Relationships
THE PAST: History of Bird Declines
• What factors contributed to their decline?
• To their recovery?
What are the types and distributions
of habitats in California?
How important are these different
habitat types to biodiversity?
Comments from Survey Takers
“It would be beneficial to have
a GIS database showing
types and distributions of
natural communities and
habitats in CA.”
This would be driven by soils
and hydrology.”
What are the habitat requirements to
maintain, enhance or restore avian
biodiversity over different scales?
“I work in a small park. What is the
minimum habitat patch size that will
support breeding of native birds?”
How do birds respond to
habitat restoration?
• How do different species respond to RIPARIAN restoration in COASTAL CA?
• How do bird populations, distributions and species richness change as a result of
different FOREST treatments?
What protocols should I use to
measure habitat enhancement?
General Questions: Tools You Find Useful in Your Work
50
45
45
Total Voters: 47
total votes: 141
40
35
30
27
25
25
24
19
20
15
10
5
1
0
Mapping and
visualization tools
Publication search
tools
Decision support
tools
Data analysis tools
Online
bibliographies
Downloadable
publications, GIS
maps, database
at
io
or
r
18
n)
ls
py
to
o
co
35
en
ta
tio
pp
or
t
ha
rd
pr
es
su
d
t
t
en
IS
ds
he
e
do
cu
m
sp
re
a
he
in
io
n
n
is
D
ec
rs
e
fo
G
20
nv
e
us
Pu
bl
is
fo
r
ra
ph
s
25
co
da
ta
/g
M
ap
s/
30
rb
al
(
ta
bu
la
r
Fi
gu
re
s
iv
e
35
Ve
D
ow
nl
oa
da
bl
e
41
ra
ct
40
In
te
D
at
a
on
lin
e
M
ap
/G
IS
# of responses
45
Pr
in
ta
bl
e
D
ow
nl
oa
da
bl
e
How would you like the data presented?
39
Total Voters: 48
total votes: 213
27
22
16
15
15
10
5
0
How would you like to receive CADC updates?
50
45
43
Total Voters: 48
total votes: 76
40
# of responses
35
30
27
25
20
15
10
5
5
1
0
Periodic email digest of
What's New
What's New section on CADC
home page
Printed newsletter
RSS feeds
What is the finest resolution of data you require?
20
19
Total Voters: 50
18
16
# responses
14
12
11
10
10
8
7
6
4
3
2
0
1-10 hectares
I don't know
less than 1 hectare
10-100 hectares
100-1000 hectares
Comments from Survey Takers
“It’s all about
scale.”
-- program manager, local agency
“We need finer resolution data.”
“It’s great to see
a site like this.”
-- program manager, local agency
Survey Respondents’ Wish List
Better access to data
View past/present/future
Identify threats to birds
(and habitat relationships)
Map future impacts
(especially anthropogenic)
Print-/Downloadable maps
Periodic updates via email
Next Steps: In-Person Interviews