Date: 1/26/26 7:36 am From: Kent McFarland <kmcfarland...> Subject: [VTBIRD] Join the eBird Vermont Review Team
Hello bird watchers,
eBird reviewers are volunteers who ensure data accuracy. They manage
filters, review unusual observations, and above all else communicate with
eBird users. Every record in eBird is checked first by automated filters,
and then, if needed, by these volunteers who verify flagged observations
and checklists.
We are seeking data review volunteers for Chittenden County, Vermont. This
is one of our busiest counties, which is why this year we are hoping to
bring on a few people to take on this county together. We expect volunteers
to begin in early 2026, with a lot of support from current reviewers too.
About eBird Vermont
Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon
Society, eBird revolutionized how birders report and access bird
information. This year marks the 23rd year for eBird Vermont—the first
state portal for eBird. The portal is managed by Kent McFarland at the
Vermont Center for Ecostudies as a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life
<http://val.vtecostudies.org/> with the cooperation and support of many
Vermont organizations and volunteers.
Our Impact
eBird maximizes the utility of bird observations made by recreational and
professional bird watchers. The platform is building one of the largest and
fastest-growing biodiversity data resources in existence. We now have over
10 million bird records in eBird Vermont!
These observations join an international network, shared with educators,
land managers, ornithologists, and conservation biologists. These data help
us better understand bird distribution, population trends, and more.
What Do eBird Vermont Reviewers Do?
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Communicate with other eBirders in a polite, positive, and informative
manner
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Evaluate rare bird reports, high counts, and out of season encounters;
deferring to the group or to birding experts when they’re unsure.
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Maintain data quality filters with help from the team.
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Address flagged media.
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Work directly with Vermont eBirders to improve data quality.
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Serve as role models in their local birding communities.
Qualifications
You should have:
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Knowledge of Vermont birds, their distributions, and seasonal
abundances. You do not have to have a high life list. Numbers count less
than experience with birds in Vermont.
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Emotional literacy skills (people care about their records!)
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Active experience using eBird
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Strong communication skills and a willingness to educate folks on proper
eBird usage
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Willingness to consult and collaborate with other team members, the
Vermont Bird Records Committee, or other domain experts on challenging
issues
eBird reviewers do not have to be “experts” themselves, and don’t need to
be part of existing birding groups. Reviewership, on the ground, is a
collaborative teaching role that emphasizes good communication skills and
productive emotional labor. Many of our decisions are made collaboratively
by asking other reviewers for their thoughts, and the process of being a
reviewer is a growth process, where we constantly learn from each other.
You will be supported by a collaborative team and are not expected to
resolve complex issues alone.
We encourage applications from people of all genders and backgrounds and
recognize that excellent candidates may not meet every listed qualification.
Time Commitment
Vermont eBird reviewers typically spend 1-6 hours per week on average. Time
requirements vary:
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Higher in busy counties (Chittenden and Addison)
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Higher during special events (CBC, Great Backyard Bird Count, Global Big
Day)
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Higher during migration periods when checklist submissions increase
Maintain familiarity with eBird's current rules, best practices, and
protocols
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Understand all current eBird data quality guidelines and the eBird
Volunteer Handbook, and to have a willingness to learn and ask about
details they are confused about.
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Actively and regularly use eBird Vermont.
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Subscribe to eBird Central email updates and the eBird Vermont Slack
channel.
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Practice strong, professional communication—remain civil and polite in
all correspondence.
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Serve as one of the faces of eBird Vermont—accurately represent the
program and model good practices in the birding community
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Treat all community members with fairness, equality, and respect
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Respect confidentiality—understand that you will have access to personal
bird observations and confidential information about rare birds and people,
and follow all rules set by eBird, Cornell University, and the Vermont
Center for Ecostudies.
