Using citizen science image analysis to measure seabird phenology

Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) breeding timing shifts with latitude, arriving and departing 2.6 and 1.2 days later per degree northward, respectively. This pattern aligns with ecological expectations but was revealed through a novel citizen science approach using time-lapse camera data from 11 North Atlantic colonies over nine years (2014–2023). Over 35,000 volunteers tagged seabirds in >200,000 images, with most contributing briefly but collectively enabling large-scale analysis. A standardized method validated citizen science annotations against expert review, demonstrating reliability for long-term monitoring. Notably, Kittiwakes wintered at Skellig Michael (Ireland), unlike nearby Skomer Island, suggesting site-specific behavioral differences. This cost-effective, scalable framework leverages public engagement to track phenological changes in response to environmental shifts, offering a model for global seabird conservation efforts.

Edney, A. J., Danielsen, J., Descamps, S., Jónsson, J. E., Owen, E., Merkel, F., Stefánsson, R. A., Wood, M. J., Jessopp, M. J., & Hart, T. (2024). Using citizen science image analysis to measure seabird phenology. Ibis, 167(1), 56–72. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13317