Mission-Sensitive Species (MSS) are those that require careful proactive conservation management because any future potential federal listing would result in significant impacts to the military mission.

Developing the Standardized Field Methodology

Recognizing the need for consistent and effective monitoring approaches, the DoD AKN Program Team collaborated with natural resource professionals and species experts from within and outside the DoD to design standardized methodologies tailored to military lands. These methods were developed through a rigorous review of existing Burrowing Owl research, collaborator input, and field-testing to ensure applicability across a variety of habitats and operational contexts.

Recommended Monitoring Methods

The DoD AKN Portal now provides three standardized methodologies for Burrowing Owl monitoring: including a Point Count, Area Search, and burrowing montioring field method and associated AKN Protocol.

Access the Burrowing Owl Monitoring Protocols

These recommended methodologies ensure that DoD land managers and biologists collect high-quality, comparable data that support conservation planning and compliance with regulatory requirements.

To explore the full details of the Burrowing Owl monitoring protocols and incorporate them into your conservation efforts, visit the DoD AKN Mission-Sensitive Species page: BUOW Methods.

By adopting these standardized approaches, DoD natural resource managers can enhance their understanding of Burrowing Owl populations and contribute to long-term conservation goals. Check out the resources today and integrate them into your monitoring strategy!

Effective avian monitoring requires selecting the appropriate survey methodology to collect reliable and comparable data that meets your conservation and resource management goals. The DoD AKN team provides guidance on standardized protocols to support consistent data collection across military lands.

Two widely used bird survey methods – Point Counts and Area Searches – each offer unique advantages depending on monitoring objectives, habitat characteristics, and field effort limitations/opportunities.

Why Standardized Protocols Matter

Standardized protocols ensure that bird monitoring data are collected in a consistent manner, allowing for better comparison across sites, time periods, and studies. This consistency enhances data quality, facilitates broader-scale analyses, and supports informed conservation and management decisions.

Point Counts vs. Area Searches: A Quick Comparison

Both methods are designed to systematically record bird observations, but they differ in approach:

• Point Counts: Observers record all birds detected from a fixed location within a set time period. This method is efficient for detecting vocal species and is particularly useful during breeding season or when the objective is to estimate bird densities.
• Area Searches: Observers move systematically through a defined area, recording all birds detected. This method provides greater flexibility in diverse habitats and is beneficial for detecting less vocal (e.g., non-breeding) or cryptic species.

Standardized Methods and Protocols Available on the DoD AKN Portal

To assist DoD natural resource managers in implementing these methodologies, the DoD AKN Portal offers detailed guidance on standardized sampling methods:

• Point Counts: Recommended protocols, survey design considerations, and best practices for conducting point count surveys can be found here.
• Area Searches: Guidelines for implementing standardized area search methods, including survey planning and data collection recommendations, are available here.

By following these standardized approaches, DoD land managers and researchers can contribute to high-quality avian data that support long-term conservation goals. Explore the available resources on the DoD AKN Portal to enhance your bird survey efforts!

The DoD Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) is expanding its suite of tools to support avian monitoring and conservation on military lands. A newly available resource on the DoD AKN Portal provides a cross-walk that integrates eBird checklist data into the AKN framework. This resource enables DoD natural resource managers to leverage one of the largest citizen science datasets for tracking bird populations and informing management decisions.

What is eBird?

How Does This New Resource Help?

The new eBird-to-AKN cross-walk facilitates the integration of eBird checklist data into the AKN’s standardized data structure. This enables DoD natural resource managers to incorporate eBird data into their monitoring efforts, improving their ability to analyze avian trends and inform conservation strategies.

Key benefits of this resource include:

• Standardized Data Format: Converts eBird checklist data into a format compatible with AKN’s analytical tools.
• Enhanced Comparability: Allows managers to integrate eBird data with other avian datasets for more robust analysis.
• Improved Conservation Planning: Supports long-term monitoring goals and management strategies on DoD lands.

Access the New Resource

To explore the eBird-to-AKN cross-walk and learn how to incorporate eBird checklist data into your conservation efforts, visit the DoD AKN Standard Sampling Methods page: eBird to AKN.

This latest resource underscores the DoD AKN’s commitment to providing practical tools that enhance avian monitoring and conservation across military lands. Check it out today and see how it can support your work!

The Department of Defense (DoD) Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) continues to enhance its resources for avian conservation and research. A new addition to the DoD AKN Portal provides a cross-walk that links Christmas Bird Count (CBC) data into the AKN framework, making it easier for DoD natural resource managers to utilize this long-standing dataset for monitoring and conservation planning.

What is the Christmas Bird Count?

How Does This New Resource Help?

The new CBC-to-AKN cross-walk facilitates the integration of CBC data into the AKN’s standardized data structure. This means that DoD natural resource managers can now easily compare CBC data with other monitoring efforts, improving their ability to assess trends and make informed management decisions.

Key benefits of this resource include:

• Standardized Data Format: Converts CBC data into a format compatible with AKN’s analytical tools.
• Enhanced Comparability: Allows managers to integrate CBC data with other avian datasets for comprehensive analysis.
• Improved Conservation Planning: Supports long-term monitoring goals and management strategies on DoD lands.

Access the New Resource

To explore the CBC-to-AKN cross-walk and learn how to incorporate CBC data into your conservation efforts, visit the DoD AKN Standard Sampling Methods page: CBC-to-AKN.

This latest resource underscores the DoD AKN’s commitment to providing practical tools that enhance avian monitoring and conservation across military lands. Check it out today and see how it can support your work!

The DoD AKN Team is excited to roll out the DoD Avian Knowledge Network training schedule for FY25! Participants will learn the who, what, where, when, why, and how of the AKN and DoD’s commitment to the use of the AKN. They will leave with the capability to upload, archive, access, and use extensive avian data tools to assist in NEPA analysis and assessing impacts of readiness and non-readiness activities.

These trainings are open to all DoD personnel and partners who support avian data collection on DoD lands or in coordination with DoD entities.

See below for dates and locations of upcoming in-person DoD AKN Trainings:

February 11-13 – Robins AFB, Warner Robins, GA (three-day training)
Registration is currently OPEN! Visit the training registration page on the DoD AKN Portal to register:
https://www.dodakn.org/get-training/training-registration-page-fy25q2-regional-robins-afb

March 10 – NMFWA, Louisville, KY (one-day training)
Registration for the training will be handled through the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association (NMFWA) Annual Training Workshop registration, which can be found on their website:
https://www.nmfwa.org/2025-meeting

June 24-26 – Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO (three-day training)
Registration will be open soon! Check the DoD AKN Portal Training Page for updates:
https://www.dodakn.org/get-training

August 19-21 – Camp Edwards, Mashpee, MA (three-day training)
Registration will be open soon! Check the DoD AKN Portal Training Page for updates:
https://www.dodakn.org/get-training

The Team may also be offering additional Military Service-sponsored trainings which will be advertised within the sponsoring Service branch and on the DoD AKN Portal. Stay tuned for more on additional trainings.

Course Description:
On 24 Jun 2022, the Office of the Secretary of Defense issued a memo that endorses and requires the use of the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) by each DoD Component. The power of the AKN and its tools, are dependent on getting data uploaded and users trained on the system.

Attendees will learn about how the AKN system is organized, how to create project metadata and input data, how data sharing levels work, how to visualize, analyze, and aggregate data for conservation purposes. They will learn about capability of pooling Military Service-specific data, regional data, and habitat-specific data including data from our federal partners.

For the most up-to-date information on upcoming in-person DoD AKN trainings, please visit the DoD AKN Portal at https://www.dodakn.org/

The trainings are in-person and will take place over 3 days.

Instructors include engineers and biologists from Point Blue Conservation Science, Klamath Bird Observatory, and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center – Environmental Laboratory.

Questions? Email the Team at DoDAKN@erdc.dren.mil

Want to host a future DoD AKN Training at your installation?
Email Liz Neipert at elizabeth.s.neipert@erdc.dren.mil

The DoD AKN Program is excited to announce the addition of a Mission-Sensitive Species filter to many data discovery and exploration tools in the AKN.

What Are Mission-Sensitive Species?

DoD Partners in Flight (PIF) has identified 15 avian species occuring on DoD lands that have the highest potential to impact the military mission should they become Federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The MSS list was created to assist DoD natural resource managers to prioritize monitoring and proactive management efforts of those species and their habitats to reverse trends and establish a baseline to prepare for potential consultations.
For more information on DoD PIF’s MSS list, see the DoD PIF website.

Using the Mission-Sensitive Species Filter

The MSS filter is now available in the following tools: Phenology Tool, Observation Map, Rapid Avian Information Locator (R.A.I.L.) Tool, and the Public Data Downloader Tool.

To use the new filter in the above tools, follow the instructions below:

• Rapid Avian Information Locator (R.A.I.L.) Tool:
  1. Draw the area you would like to analyze by clicking the “Select Area”
  2. Click “Get Results”
  3. In the results below, click “Filter Results”
  4. Scroll down to the filter section “Conservation Status” and click the box next to “DoD Mission Sensitive Species”

• Phenology Tool:
  1. Draw the area you would like to analyze by clicking the “Select Area”
  2. Select “Use DoD Mission-Sensitive Species” from the dropdown
  3. Click “Create Graph”

• Observation Map:
  1. Zoom into your area of interest
  2. Select the box “Show only DoD Mission Sensitive Species”
  3. Select your species of interest from the dropdown
  4. Select the data type you would like to explore (e.g., AKN Point Counts, AKN Area Search, BBS data, etc.)

• Public Data Downloader Tool:
  1. Select the tab for the data observation type you want to use
  2. Under “Species,” open the “Guild” dropdown and select “DoD – Mission Sensitive Species”
  3. Select any other data filters you are interested in
  4. Hit the “Search” button at the bottom of the screen