Species 431
Complete lists 37.537
Observers 3.229
Historical
Species 514
Complete lists 352.275
Observers 13.784
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Overall changes in reporting rate
(2025)
Year-round
Spring
Autumn
vs average
--
--
vs 2024
--
--
Phenology
Phenology across years

Complete lists

2025
37.537
2024
43.460
2023
33.808
2022
29.524
2021
30.057
2020
23.669
2019
16.422
2018
16.079
2017
15.786
2016
16.118
2015
15.866
2014
12.181
2013
6.921
2012
3.792
2011
3.281
2010
5.860
2025
37.537
2024
51.307
2023
39.996
2022
34.860
2021
34.884
2020
27.903
2019
20.098
2018
18.405
2017
18.355
2016
17.530
2015
17.245
2014
12.679
2013
7.365
2012
4.166
2011
3.676
2010
6.269

Records in complete lists (%)

2025
68,0
2024
62,7
2023
54,5
2022
54,6
2021
54,1
2020
53,9
2019
52,5
2018
59,9
2017
57,9
2016
58,7
2015
50,5
2014
36,7
2013
33,4
2012
32,5
2011
33,7
2010
42,5
2025
68,0
2024
63,9
2023
55,1
2022
55,0
2021
54,9
2020
54,4
2019
53,7
2018
59,8
2017
58,2
2016
57,4
2015
50,4
2014
35,6
2013
33,3
2012
32,3
2011
33,6
2010
41,4

Observers

2025
3.229
2024
3.113
2023
2.665
2022
2.056
2021
1.252
2020
837
2019
1.278
2018
1.113
2017
1.021
2016
986
2015
795
2014
668
2013
578
2012
414
2011
472
2010
464
2025
3.229
2024
3.547
2023
2.944
2022
2.252
2021
1.399
2020
906
2019
1.400
2018
1.198
2017
1.095
2016
1.037
2015
839
2014
724
2013
624
2012
448
2011
498
2010
486

Breeding evidences

2025
150.681
2024
238.611
2023
222.078
2022
205.111
2021
279.742
2020
202.673
2019
146.482
2018
193.243
2017
247.630
2016
287.115
2015
155.852
2014
92.998
2013
38.689
2012
38.095
2011
30.889
2010
31.695
2025
150.681
2024
243.044
2023
228.002
2022
209.994
2021
285.484
2020
209.178
2019
151.593
2018
195.802
2017
251.807
2016
292.233
2015
157.937
2014
95.477
2013
39.305
2012
40.082
2011
32.868
2010
33.997

What's SEE lists?

The overall quantity and quality of the bird data collected in SE Europe is still quite low. For example, relative to its human population, the data collected in this region is about 6 times lower than the European average and several countries in the area are just starting now to develop standard common bird monitoring projects.

SEE lists aims to contribute to fill up this gap by showcasing the value of the complete lists collected by the online bird portals operating in the target countries of the LIFE EBP Reinforcement project in SE Europe: Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.

The viewer has three main sections, all of them updated every day with the data collected up to the previous day by the different online bird portals (see here to know more about the EBP data flow system).

At the top, you can see the overall statistics in terms of the number of species recorded, complete lists submitted and observers contributing data. Next, there is the main section of the viewer, where you can see the information at the species level (you can select the species of interest from the drop-down menu) and, finally, on the right, there is the section that shows how data collection and participation has progressed in the area over the years.

Information at the species level

Overall changes in reporting rate

These indicators show the percentage change in reporting rate (% of complete lists with the species) of the year of reference (by default it is the current year but can be changed using the drop-down menu) in comparison with the historical average (2010 up to now) and the value for the previous year. When the current year is selected, given that it will usually still be in course, only the data for the same time period across all years is considered. For example, on April 25, all reporting rates (both for the year of reference as well as the previous year and the historical average) are calculated for the period that runs from January 1 to April 24.

Phenology

Shows the year-round variation in the weekly reporting rates for the year of reference, the previous one and the historical average (2010 up to now). The first week of the year begins invariably on January 1, so weeks do not necessarily go from Monday to Sunday (hover over the values in the graph to see which days are included in each week).

The year-round variation in the reporting rates denotes the overall seasonal pattern of occurrence of the selected species (for example, the time when a migratory species arrives and leaves SE Europe) but can also be influenced by seasonal changes in detectability. For example, many species have lower reporting rates after early summer, once they stop singing, but this does not necessarily mean that their presence has diminished.

Given that the data are updated daily, it is necessary to take into account that the reporting rate of the current week will not always have been calculated with the data for the entire week and, therefore, it may not yet be representative enough​.

Phenology across years

Shows the variation in reporting rates by month and year (from 2010 to the current year).

This is especially useful to see eventual changes in the overall phenological patterns across time. For example, to see if a given species is becoming more or less frequent over the years or at certain​ time periods (e.g. winter). It is also very useful to see which years have been especially good for irruptive species. Like the previous graph, however, it is necessary to keep in mind that the changes in reporting rates can also be affected by seasonal changes in detectability or due to changes over time in the areas or habitats covered by the observers.

Given that the data are updated daily, it is necessary to take into account that the reporting rate of the current month will not always have been calculated with the data for the entire month and, therefore, it may not yet be representative enough​.

Progress indicators

Given that the current year will usually still be in course, you can choose to see the results of these indicators filtered for the same time period across all years (e.g. on April 25, using only data from January 1 to April 24) or including the whole data (i.e. using the data of the entire year in all cases except for the current year).

Complete lists

Shows the progress in the overall number of complete lists collected in the region over the years.

Records in complete lists (%)

Shows the progress in the percentage of records collected within complete lists in the region over the years.

Observers

Shows the progress in the overall number of observers submitting complete lists in the region over the years.

Breeding evidences

Shows the progress in the overall number of breeding evidences reported in the region over the years.

What's a complete list?

A complete list is the list of all bird species that a given observer is able to identify in a given place and time period.

Only very rarely all bird species present in a given place and time period will be detected even by the most skilled observers (e.g. some birds will always be completely quite or out of sight), therefore, it’s perfectly normal for complete lists to only contain some of the species that are regularly seen in a given place and time period.

Why are complete lists so valuable?

Unlike casual observations, complete lists not only contain information about the bird species that have been detected, but also about those that have not been detected. In other words, they give much more valuable information because knowing where birds aren’t detected is just as important as knowing where they are!

Thanks to this, complete lists are particularly helpful when trying to understand the patterns of bird distribution across space and time or to study phenological patterns and their change over time.

The phenological patterns shown in this viewer are just one of the many interesting outputs that can be provided thanks to complete lists.

How could I start to collect complete lists?

Tip 1: Start making complete lists in areas with fewer bird species and more familiar to you (e.g. your garden, a local park).

Tip 2: Start making lists of short duration (e.g. 15-30 minutes).

How can I make my complete lists even more valuable?

Tip 1: Do not move more than 1km (the bigger the area you cover the less valuable the data). If you are hiking or covering longer distances, make complete lists only of some of the areas you will travel through.

Tip 2: Do lists of up to 1, maximum, 2 hours. As a rule of thumb, the shorter the duration and the distance covered, the more valuable the information collected.

Tip 3: Provide always counts for all the species observed, even if they are very rough. It is much better to indicate an extremely rough count than just presence.

Tip 4: If the app associated with your portal allows this, always record your GPS track!

Tip 5: Record any observed breeding evidence.

Tip 6: Collect complete lists all year-round. All seasons of the year are equally interesting!

EBP Partners in SE Europe

Online portals operating in SE Europe