Highly specialized recreationists contribute the most to the citizen science project eBird

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dc.contributor.authorRosenblatt, Connor J.en
dc.contributor.authorDayer, Ashley A.en
dc.contributor.authorDuberstein, Jennifer N.en
dc.contributor.authorPhillips, Tina B.en
dc.contributor.authorHarshaw, Howard W.en
dc.contributor.authorFulton, David C.en
dc.contributor.authorCole, Nicholas W.en
dc.contributor.authorRaedeke, Andrew H.en
dc.contributor.authorRutter, Jonathan D.en
dc.contributor.authorWood, Christopher L.en
dc.date.accessioned2022-07-26T15:59:06Zen
dc.date.available2022-07-26T15:59:06Zen
dc.date.issued2022-05-06en
dc.description.abstractContributory citizen science projects (hereafter "contributory projects") are a powerful tool for avian conservation science. Large-scale projects such as eBird have produced data that have advanced science and contributed to many conservation applications. These projects also provide a means to engage the public in scientific data collection. A common challenge across contributory projects like eBird is to maintain participation, as some volunteers contribute just a few times before disengaging. To maximize contributions and manage an effective program that has broad appeal, it is useful to better understand factors that influence contribution rates. For projects capitalizing on recreation activities (e.g., birding), differences in contribution levels might be explained by the recreation specialization framework, which describes how recreationists vary in skill, behavior, and motives. We paired data from a survey of birders across the United States and Canada with data on their eBird contributions (n = 28,926) to test whether those who contributed most are more specialized birders. We assigned participants to 4 contribution groups based on eBird checklist submissions and compared groups' specialization levels and motivations. More active contribution groups had higher specialization, yet some specialized birders were not active participants. The most distinguishing feature among groups was the behavioral dimension of specialization, with active eBird participants owning specialized equipment and taking frequent trips away from home to bird. Active participants had the strongest achievement motivations for birding (e.g., keeping a life list), whereas all groups had strong appreciation motivations (e.g., enjoying the sights and sounds of birding). Using recreation specialization to characterize eBird participants can help explain why some do not regularly contribute data. Project managers may be able to promote participation, particularly by those who are specialized but not contributing, by appealing to a broader suite of motivations that includes both appreciation and achievement motivations, and thereby increase data for conservation. Lay Summary center dot Contributory science projects have conservation and societal benefits, yet some projects struggle with participant retention. center dot Recreation specialization (a framework that describes individuals' degree of engagement in and commitment to an activity) uses three dimensions to classify recreationists: affective (psychological attachment to specific activities), behavioral (frequency of participation, prior experience, and equipment used), and cognitive (knowledge and skill about an activity). center dot We used survey data about involvement and preferences of birders in the U.S. and Canada to measure recreation specialization. We then combined these data with respondents' checklist contributions to eBird. center dot Individuals who had the highest scores for all three recreation specialization dimensions contributed the most checklists to eBird. center dot Participants motivated by achievement contributed more than those not motivated by achievement. Motivation by appreciation did not influence the number of contributions.en
dc.description.notesFunding for the Canadian portion of this study was provided by Wildlife Habitat Canada, Environment & Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Government of Ontario, the Government of New Brunswick, Alberta NAWMP, the University of Alberta, and the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (File #435-2017-1352).en
dc.description.sponsorshipWildlife Habitat Canada; Canadian Wildlife Service; Government of Ontario; Government of New Brunswick; Alberta NAWMP; University of Alberta; Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council [435-2017-1352]; Environment & Climate Change Canada; Ducks Unlimited Canadaen
dc.description.versionPublished versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duac008en
dc.identifier.eissn2732-4621en
dc.identifier.issn0010-5422en
dc.identifier.issue2en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/111371en
dc.identifier.volume124en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherOxford University Pressen
dc.rightsPublic Domain (U.S.)en
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/en
dc.subjectbirdersen
dc.subjectcitizen scienceen
dc.subjecteBirden
dc.subjectengagementen
dc.subjectmotivationsen
dc.subjectrecreation specializationen
dc.titleHighly specialized recreationists contribute the most to the citizen science project eBirden
dc.title.serialOrnithological Applicationsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten

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