The collective application of shorebird tracking data to conservation

Area of Science:

• * Ornithology
• * Conservation Science
• * Data Science

Background:

• * North American shorebird populations have declined by over 50% since 1980.
• * Urgent conservation issues necessitate creative, evidence-based, and collaborative solutions.
• * Translational science requires effective models for integrating big data into actionable conservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To establish a partnership between scientists and practitioners for shorebird conservation.
• * To translate extensive shorebird tracking data into practical conservation strategies.
• * To create a knowledge-sharing model for addressing migratory bird declines.

Main Methods:

• * Formation of the Shorebird Science and Conservation Collective (the collective) as an intermediary.
• * Collation and analysis of shorebird tracking data contributed by scientists.
• * Facilitation of knowledge requests from conservation practitioners to the collective.
• * Development of usable data products and focused community engagement.

Main Results:

• * Data from 75 organizations include over 7.1 million shorebird observations.
• * Movement paths of 3420 individuals across 36 species tracked throughout the Americas.
• * Informed 18 conservation projects in education, land management, species management, and policy.
• * Demonstrated a successful model for translational science in conservation.

Conclusions:

• * Collaborative models like the collective are vital for integrating research and supporting conservation action.
• * Prioritizing usable data products and practitioner engagement enhances conservation impact.
• * Such intermediaries are crucial for addressing the growing volume of scientific data.
• * The collective model offers a scalable solution for conservation challenges.