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Keith Pardieck

Keith is the National Coordinator for the USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) at the Eastern Ecological Science Center in Laurel, MD.

The USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), an international avian monitoring program that provides annual population data for more the 600 bird species, providing a quantitative cornerstone of bird conservation and management in the U.S. and Canada. Each year the project entails mobilizing thousands of highly skilled professional and citizen scientists across 49 states, managing data entry processes, a 90-million-record MS-SQL database that spans 54 years, and approximately 5,000 sample locations, as well as collaborating with partners and stakeholders to address developing national concerns while improving the program’s core strengths.

 

EDUCATION:

  • M.S. Environmental Science, School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 1995.
  • B.S. Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN. 1989.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:

American Ornithological Society

RECENT DATASET RELEASES:

Pardieck, K.L., Ziolkowski Jr., D.J., Lutmerding, M., Aponte, V.I., and Hudson, M-A.R., 2020, North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2019: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9J6QUF6.

Pardieck, K.L., Ziolkowski Jr., D.J., Lutmerding, M., Aponte, V., and Hudson, M-A.R., 2019, North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2018 (ver. 2018.0): U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9HE8XYJ.

Pardieck, K.L., D.J. Ziolkowski Jr., M. Lutmerding and M.-A.R. Hudson. 2018. North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2017, version 2017.0. U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. https://doi.org/10.5066/F76972V8.

Sauer, J. R., D. K. Niven, J. E. Hines, K. L. Pardieck, J. E. Fallon, W. A. Link, and D. J. Ziolkowski, Jr. 2017. The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Results and Analysis 1966 - 2015. Version 12.23.2015 USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD.

 

 

 

Science and Products

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Net change in occupancy probability for CARW 1972-2012

Spatio-Temporal Statistical Models for Forecasting Climate Change Effects on Bird Distribution

Ecological indicators of climate change are needed to measure concurrent changes in ecological systems, inform management decisions, and forecast the consequences of climate change. We seek to develop robust bird-based, climate-change indicators using North American Breeding Bird Survey data.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Status and Trends Program (unpublished), Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
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Spatio-Temporal Statistical Models for Forecasting Climate Change Effects on Bird Distribution

Ecological indicators of climate change are needed to measure concurrent changes in ecological systems, inform management decisions, and forecast the consequences of climate change. We seek to develop robust bird-based, climate-change indicators using North American Breeding Bird Survey data.
Learn More
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Shrike BBS Trend Map

Comprehensive 1966 - 2017 Results! North American Breeding Bird Survey

The North American Breeding Bird Survey program (BBS) provides critical science-based population data for more than 400 bird species to improve our understanding of how these federally entrusted species respond to environmental variability and ecosystem change. The BBS generates results that inform Federal wildlife managers in the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, Department of...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Comprehensive 1966 - 2017 Results! North American Breeding Bird Survey

The North American Breeding Bird Survey program (BBS) provides critical science-based population data for more than 400 bird species to improve our understanding of how these federally entrusted species respond to environmental variability and ecosystem change. The BBS generates results that inform Federal wildlife managers in the Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, Department of...
Learn More
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BBS Routes across North America

The North American Breeding Bird Survey: Refining Scale to Provide New Insights

The Challenge: Since 1966, the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) has filled a vital role in identifying at-risk bird species for Federal, State, and private entities. The BBS is a scientifically rigorous population count performed by a highly skilled, largely volunteer work force of nearly 2,500 observers. Every year these observers visit most of the survey’s 4,500 routes, which consist of...
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
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The North American Breeding Bird Survey: Refining Scale to Provide New Insights

The Challenge: Since 1966, the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) has filled a vital role in identifying at-risk bird species for Federal, State, and private entities. The BBS is a scientifically rigorous population count performed by a highly skilled, largely volunteer work force of nearly 2,500 observers. Every year these observers visit most of the survey’s 4,500 routes, which consist of...
Learn More
link
Northern waterthrush

Avian Indicators of Climate Change Based on the North American Breeding Bird Survey

Appropriate ecological indicators of climate change can be used to measure concurrent changes in ecological systems, inform management decisions, and potentially to project the consequences of climate change. However, many of the available indicators for North American birds do not account for imperfect observation. We proposed to use correlated-detection occupancy models to develop indicators fro
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Climate Adaptation Science Centers
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Avian Indicators of Climate Change Based on the North American Breeding Bird Survey

Appropriate ecological indicators of climate change can be used to measure concurrent changes in ecological systems, inform management decisions, and potentially to project the consequences of climate change. However, many of the available indicators for North American birds do not account for imperfect observation. We proposed to use correlated-detection occupancy models to develop indicators fro
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North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2019, version 2019.0

The 1966-2018 North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) dataset contains avian point count data for more than 700 North American bird taxa (species, races, and unidentified species groupings). These data are collected annually during the breeding season, primarily in June, along thousands of randomly established roadside survey routes in the United States and Canada. Routes are roughly 24.5 miles
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Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center

North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2018, version 2018.0

The 1966-2018 North American Breeding Bird Survey dataset contains avian point count data for more than 700 North American bird taxa (primarily species, but also some races and unidentified species groupings). These data are collected annually during the breeding season, primarily June and May, along thousands of randomly established roadside survey routes in the United States and Canada. Routes
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Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center

North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2016, version 2016.0

The 1966-2016 North American Breeding Bird Survey dataset contains avian point count data for more than 700 North American bird taxa (primarily species, but also some races and unidentified species groupings). These data are collected annually during the breeding season, primarily June and May, along thousands of randomly established roadside survey routes in the United States and Canada. Routes
By
Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Filter Total Items: 22

Strategic Plan for the North American Breeding Bird Survey, 2020–30

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) has been the cornerstone of continental bird conservation and management for hundreds of North American bird species in the United States and Canada for more than 50 years. This strategic plan was developed in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders and charts the ambitious course for the BBS over the next decade (2020–30). Using this plan as
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Migratory behavior and winter geography drive differential range shifts of eastern birds in response to recent climate change

Over the past half century, migratory birds in North America have shown divergent population trends relative to resident species, with the former declining rapidly and the latter increasing. The role that climate change has played in these observed trends is not well understood, despite significant warming over this period. We used 43 y of monitoring data to fit dynamic species distribution models
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Estimating spatially and temporally complex range dynamics when detection is imperfect

Species distributions are determined by the interaction of multiple biotic and abiotic factors, which produces complex spatial and temporal patterns of occurrence. As habitats and climate change due to anthropogenic activities, there is a need to develop species distribution models that can quantify these complex range dynamics. In this paper, we develop a dynamic occupancy model that uses a spati
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Consistency counts: Modeling the effects of a change in protocol on Breeding Bird Survey counts

Analysis of North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data requires controls for factors that influence detectability of birds along survey routes. Identifying factors that influence the counting process and incorporating them into analyses is a primary means of limiting bias in estimates of population change. Twedt (2015) implemented an alternative counting protocol on operational and non-rand
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

North American Breeding Bird Survey in Mississippi

Does it seem like you are hearing fewer Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) calls in recent years than you remember when you were younger? Conversely, have you also noticed hearing more “cooing” of Eurasian Collared-Doves (Streptopelia decaocto)? Do such experiences reflect changes in bird populations or are they false impressions? Well, fortunately for us, we have one of the most powerful wil
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

The role of the North American Breeding Bird Survey in conservation

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) was established in 1966 in response to a lack of quantitative data on changes in the populations of many bird species at a continental scale, especially songbirds. The BBS now provides the most reliable regional and continental trends and annual indices of abundance available for >500 bird species. This paper reviews some of the ways in which BBS data
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

How well do route survey areas represent landscapes at larger spatial extents? An analysis of land cover composition along Breeding Bird Survey routes

The occurrence of birds in a survey unit is partly determined by the habitat present. Moreover, some bird species preferentially avoid some land cover types and are attracted to others. As such, land cover composition within the 400 m survey areas along a Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route clearly influences the species available to be detected. Ideally, to extend survey results to the larger landsc
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

The first 50 years of the North American Breeding Bird Survey

The vision of Chandler (Chan) S. Robbins for a continental-scale omnibus survey of breeding birds led to the development of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). Chan was uniquely suited to develop the BBS. His position as a government scientist had given him experience with designing and implementing continental-scale surveys, his research background made him an effective advocate of the
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Expanding the North American Breeding Bird Survey analysis to include additional species and regions

The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) contains data for >700 bird species, but analyses often focus on a core group of ∼420 species. We analyzed data for 122 species of North American birds for which data exist in the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) database but are not routinely analyzed on the BBS Summary and Analysis Website. Many of these species occur in the northern part of
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

An integrated population model for bird monitoring in North America

Integrated population models (IPMs) provide a unified framework for simultaneously analyzing data sets of different types to estimate vital rates, population size, and dynamics; assess contributions of demographic parameters to population changes; and assess population viability. Strengths of an IPM include the ability to estimate latent parameters and improve the precision of parameter estimates.
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Estimating indices of range shifts in birds using dynamic models when detection is imperfect

There is intense interest in basic and applied ecology about the effect of global change on current and future species distributions. Projections based on widely used static modeling methods implicitly assume that species are in equilibrium with the environment and that detection during surveys is perfect. We used multiseason correlated detection occupancy models, which avoid these assumptions, to
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

The North American Breeding Bird Survey 1966–2011: Summary analysis and species accounts

The North American Breeding Bird Survey is a roadside, count-based survey conducted by volunteer observers. Begun in 1966, it now is a primary source of information on spatial and temporal patterns of population change for North American birds. We analyze population change for states, provinces, Bird Conservation Regions, and the entire survey within the contiguous United States and southern Canad
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Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

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