Elimination of eBird's "Summarize my data" tool...

[JAMES SPEICHER]

This tool/feature, which is invaluable for count compilers has been eliminated in the revamped eBird.  The text below was received in response to my inquiry.  Note that there is no "case #" to refer to should you also want to protest this removal, nor is there a specific means of contact, though a name is mentioned. The suggested alternative does not come close to the features of the summarize tool and, although future improvements are promised, a replacement for "summarize" is not one of them. I followed up, but have received no response.  The link [ sightings lists  ] given in John's text is nothing more than a ranking of your individual species list(s) by regions in your My eBird.  It can be tweaked, but never to the degree of usefulness of the summarize tool.  There's a lot to like about the changes underway, but this is not one of them. If enough people protest, maybe they will return "summarise" to functionality.

Jim Speicher

C&O (mid-winter) Count Coordinator

Hi James,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the changes to My eBird. It was necessary to retire “Summarize My Observations” due to changes in the underlying structure of the eBird database that are currently taking place. These database updates will allow us to introduce new and improved ways to summarize your observations - including personalized Trip Reports - in the future. We appreciate your patience as we work to make eBird better! 

In the meantime, please note that the new sightings lists in My eBird allow you to easily create month and day lists, features that overlap with functionality from Summarize My Observations. If your past needs for Summarize My Observations aren't fully met by Sightings Lists, could you provide some more information on what you used the tool for? We'll do what we can to find a solution with the tools currently available.

We hope that you'll enjoy the rest of the updates to My eBird, and thanks again for reaching out.

Best,

John Garrett

eBird Project Assistant

[Gail B. Mackiernan]

HI,

 

I actually ran into this issue as well -- today. I wanted to summarize my observations from BARC in advance of a webinair this evening on a proposed industrial facility to be built on the BARC property. I could not do it. To say it was frustrating is a mild understatement.

 

This hugely diminishes the usefulness of eBird as scientific tool, especially in compiling occurrence data, over time, for various species. 

 

I also find the new platform and format less than compelling, have heard the same from others including at least one eBird reviewer.

 

Jim, I hope you responded as to why you -- as a count compiler -- needed this feature.

 

Gail Mackiernan

Colesville

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[JAMES SPEICHER]

On Wed, Dec 2, 2020 at 7:17 PM Gail B. Mackiernan <katah...@comcast.net> wrote:
Jim, I hope you responded as to why you -- as a count compiler -- needed this feature.

Gail and all

I DID respond that count compilers DEPEND on this tool.  I had 163 checklists for the 2020 C&O count.  Compiling without the tool will not be fun in '21.  Perhaps, MORE rebuttal to eBird will turn this around.  I really have no issues with regard  to the other changes...BUT can we FOCUS this discussion in MD Birding, if there is to be a discussion, on the main point...returning the "summarize" tool to eBrid, please...Jim S

[Marcia Watson]

I’ve run into this issue as well, for compiling lists from multiple observers that go to a shared account for a property where MOS is doing some bird survey work.  I’m also annoyed at the sparseness of reporting available through the Atlas portal. 

Marcia 

------------

Marcia Watson

Patuxent Bird Club 

https://patuxentbirdclub.org/

Maryland Ornithological Society

https://mdbirds.org/

Friends of Patuxent

http://www.friendsofpatuxent.org/

Bowie, Maryland

marsh...@comcast.net

On Dec 2, 2020, at 7:17 PM, Gail B. Mackiernan <katah...@comcast.net> wrote:



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[Jared Fisher]

Hi all, 

I found this page linked as a comment in the facebook ebird discussion group. Perhaps it will be of use for some of you until ebird comes back with a better solution.  

https://www.faintlake.com/eBird/compiler/

Jared Fisher

Darnestown, MD

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/mdbirding/AF2B5584-62C7-4381-8908-E4622851AD99%40comcast.net.

[James Tyler Bell]

This is a disservice to the birding community. I've used a shared account to compile St. Mary's May Count and the Point Lookout CBC data for several years and it was pretty seamless. Clearly, I'm not alone. Will have to test drive the "Sightings List" feature and see if it works as well. I'm guessing they're going to get some mighty blowback in the next month during CBC season!

Tyler Bell
jtyle...@yahoo.com
California, Maryland

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[JAMES SPEICHER]

Might be useful, but getting all of my ~163 checklist links, or even the S#'s into the tool window won't be a walk in the park. 

Also those not having Office might be out of luck for this application...

Jim

[Jared Fisher]

Jim, 

Most efficient way to get all the Checklist IDs - would be to download your ebird data (my ebird -> download my data). The output from this is a csv file with all of your ebird records, including a column with checklist IDs. You could then filter down to desired lists by date, hotspot, etc, remove duplicates, and get a list of unique checklist IDs to feed into the compiler. 

Jared Fisher

Darnestown, MD

[JAMES SPEICHER]

Under the Science section of My eBird, I found this statement:

eBird data contribute to hundreds of conservation decisions and peer-reviewed papers, thousands of student projects, and help inform research worldwide. Applications range from ecological and ornithological research, to conservation application, to advancing research in the fields of socioeconomics, artificial intelligence, and computer science. Thanks to the contributions of eBirders everywhere, this growing database has become an unparalleled information resource on birds. If you have used eBird data as a core component of an analysis or as a core data set upon which conservation actions were taken, let us know by email, using the subject title ‘eBird Data Use.’

It might be worthwhile to respond using the requested subject title to lobby for the return of the "summarize" tool. The given link my only work in an individual's account and takes you to a contract form...

Jim

[JAMES SPEICHER]

Thanks. If appeals fail to restore the previous tool, it will have to do. Though whether non-Office users can access the resulting file is an issue... Jim

[Kevin Bennett]

Hi all,

I'd just like to add an alternative voice here. I've been thrilled by just about every change eBird has made since its clunky early days, so I'm now willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm happy to see that they are prioritizing replacing the clunky old parts of eBird (summarize, My eBird, bar charts -> Illustrated Checklist bar charts, etc) with newer, faster, better-looking, easier to operate versions of those things.

It's too bad that the summarize function disappeared before its replacement arrived, but if they say they are rolling out a new version, I trust them, and I trust that it will be better than the previous version.

Best,

Kevin