New library database: The Birds of North America

There are an estimated 63 million birdwatchers in America today. Ranging from the casual backyard observer to competitive birding enthusiasts, people are flocking to the age-old practice of ornithology.

Charlotte Omoto of Palouse has long supported local birdwatchers by providing Whitman County Library with an outstanding online product called The Birds of North America. Thanks to a suggestion and continued funding from Charlotte, this service is now available to Pullman residents as well. Simply visit the Electronic Resources pages of either Neill or Whitman County Library’s websites for free access to this informative product.

Birds of North America (BNA) is compiled from all 18 volumes and 18,000 pages of the hardcover version, in an easy to use online format. BNA is a living, growing, searchable resource. The account for each bird is updated with the newest scientific information as it becomes available. Better still, BNA uses video and audio from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Macaulay Library to show behaviors, habitat, nests, and more. Songs and calls are illustrated in spectrograms and waveforms. The photo gallery shows plumage and distinguishing characteristics. You’ll also find maps of breeding and wintering range as well as charts and graphs illustrating key aspects of the biology of a species. Topics covered include conservation and management issues, migration, feeding habits, and population trends. There is a comprehensive guide to published research for each species, and a whole lot more.

Birds of North America is such a robust collection, the US Fish and Wildlife Service specifically requested free and open access to the database for bird species most affected by the recent Gulf oil spill. Many of the Agency’s partners and volunteers were better prepared for monitoring these species and noting any changes in behavior, distribution, and breeding success as a result of using the BNA database.

Birds of North America has recorded more than 3 million page views in 2010 with visitors from 200 different countries. I am pleased to remind residents of the Whitman County and encourage patrons of Neill Public Library to explore this amazing and easy-to-use resource. Thank you to Ms. Omoto for supporting birdwatchers across Whitman County.

by James Morasch,

Systems Administrator

Whitman County and Neill Public Libraries

Published 6-11-11 in Moscow-Pullman Daily News