Sightings

The Sightings module is used to record bird observations made during fieldwork. A sighting represents a direct or indirect detection of a bird, whether by visual observation, vocalization, capture, or other evidence. Sightings are fundamental for biodiversity monitoring, as they allow researchers to document species presence, abundance, and behavior in a standardized way.

Open the Sightings module in the main menu: Fieldwork → Sightings. Alternatively, sightings can be viewed grouped by survey in the Surveys module.

Adding or editing a sighting

When creating or editing a sighting record, the following fields are available:

Field	Required	Description
Survey		Survey to which the sighting is linked
Observer		Observer selected from the Researchers table
Method	Yes	Method used when the bird was sighted (e.g., point count, transect, mist net)
Locality	Yes	Site where the bird was sighted (linked to Gazetteer)
Longitude		Longitude coordinate of the sighting
Latitude		Latitude coordinate of the sighting
Coordinates precision		Accuracy of the geographical coordinates
Date	Yes	Date of the sighting
Time		Time when the bird was sighted
Taxon	Yes	Taxon observed (species, subspecies, etc.)
Individual		Specific individual sighted (if already registered)
Quantity		Number of individuals sighted
Distance		Distance from the transect or observer, in meters
Detection type		How the bird was detected (see below)
Breeding/behavior code		eBird breeding and behavior code
Mackinnon list number		Mackinnon list in which the sighting is included
Captured		Check if the bird/taxon was captured
Seen		Check if the bird/taxon was seen
Heard		Check if the bird/taxon was heard
Photographed		Check if the bird/taxon was photographed
Audio recorded		Check if the bird/taxon was recorded in audio
Nr. of new captures		Number of birds captured for the first time
Nr. of recaptures		Number of birds captured again
Nr. of unbanded		Number of birds captured without bands
Nr. of males		Number of males observed
Nr. of females		Number of females observed
Nr. of birds not sexed		Number of birds whose sex could not be determined
Nr. of adults		Number of adults observed
Nr. of immatures		Number of immatures or juveniles observed
Nr. of birds not aged		Number of birds whose age could not be determined
Record is on eBird		Check if the sighting is also recorded on eBird
Out of sample		Check if the sighting was made outside regular sampling effort
Notes		Any additional information about the sighting

Detection types

Detection types describe how the bird was detected during the sighting:

• S – Song
• C – Call
• V – Seen
• W – Wing flapping
• D – Drumming
• F – Flying

These codes help standardize observations and make them comparable across surveys.

Best practices

• Always link sightings to surveys: This ensures that observations are contextualized within sampling events.
• Record detection type: Helps distinguish between visual and acoustic detections, improving data quality.
• Use breeding/behavior codes: When applicable, record breeding evidence to enrich ecological datasets.
• Document effort: Note if the sighting occurred outside regular sampling to avoid bias in analyses.
• Add media evidence: Photographs and audio recordings strengthen the reliability of records.
• Record sex and age when possible: These details are valuable for demographic and population studies.
• Use notes for unusual observations: Document rare behaviors, habitat conditions, or disturbances.

Relation to other modules

Sightings are interconnected with several parts of Xolmis:

• Surveys: Sightings are grouped by survey events.
• Individuals: Sightings can be linked to specific registered individuals.
• Captures: Captured birds are also recorded as sightings.
• Projects: Sightings contribute to project datasets and reports.
• eBird integration: Records can be cross-referenced with eBird for broader data sharing.

By managing sightings in Xolmis, researchers ensure that bird observations are standardized, traceable, and ready for ecological and conservation analyses.