Browse the data
You do not need to register for an account to browse and view the datasets here.
For instructions on how to use the searches and filters, click here.
Request data
1. Log in to your account. If you don’t have an account, fill in this form and we will review your application.
2. Browse the datasets here using the filters (instructions here) and select the datasets you would like to request.
3. Fill in the request form (advice here on detailing the planned use of the data and how the data owner(s) will be acknowledged) and click “Send Request” to send to the data owner(s) for approval.
4. When the data owner(s) approve or decline your request, you will receive an email instructing you to check your “My account” page. If the data owner(s) have approved your request, you will be able to click to download the data on the dataset page.
A new request needs to be made to use the data for any purpose not stated in the original request.
Contribute your data
1. Log in to your account. If you don’t have an account, fill in this form and we will review your application.
2. If you want to add co-owners who can also manage the dataset (only one approval is needed for the data to be made available), make sure that they also have accounts.
3. Read the terms of use and data submission instructions.
4. Fill in the dataset template with your data (see tabs for examples), and save as “CSV (Comma delimited) (*.csv)”.
- Here are tips for formatting data with R, using this example incorrect csv.
5. Click “Add Dataset” (top right on this page), fill in the dataset submission form and upload your file.
6. Your dataset will go to the team for checking and then will be published.
You can edit the dataset at any time via your account page.
Please do not upload multiple copies of the same data – each dataset should contain unique tracks.
Dataset upload and sharing flow Carnerio et al. 2024
About the Data
Species
Tracking data for any seabird species, regardless of their conservation status, are very welcome to our database. A complete list of all seabird species currently recognized by BirdLife International can be found at the Data Zone.
Ownership
Data in the database can be searched and viewed (subject to owner’s permissions), but actual access to tracking data is restricted within a request process. BirdLife International is the curator and manager of the database, but the data is actually owned by the contributors. The main purpose of the database is to inform conservation work, but we also aim to enhance and collaboration among seabird researchers.
More info
The data are organized into datasets. A dataset is a combination of tracking data collected from one-to-several birds belonging to the same species, collected with the same type of device (GPS, PTT or GLS), deployed in the same colony, and owned by the same group of contributors.
Please note that the data held in the database are often filtered to remove erroneous locations but may contain errors (particularly in case of PTT and GLS data). Data correspond to a small sample of the species’ overall populations. Therefore, the absence of a species in a certain area may not be considered as a true absence of the species. Data should be analysed with the proper statistical tools before deriving any conclusions about the use of the areas.