DATA LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND TERMS

Although the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) data have undergone substantial editing and review prior to posting, not all errors or inaccuracies have been detected. Thus, BBS data should be regarded as provisional since subsequent reviews may result in significant revisions to the data. Data users are cautioned to consider carefully the provisional nature of the information before using it for decisions that concern personal or public safety or the conduct of business that involves substantial monetary or operational consequences.

These data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, however no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use of the data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from a USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center or Canadian Wildlife Service source, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. The U.S. Geological Survey and the Canadian Wildlife Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data retrieved from the North American Breeding Bird Survey data retrieval Internet site.

Not all data available on this site meet the various methodological criteria of the BBS. Run type codes are used to distinguish between routes that meet BBS criteria and those that do not. Run type "1" is acceptable data; run type "0" is unacceptable data for BBS purposes.   The run type codes for each route are available in the "weather data" file. See the Run Method link in the Help section for a more complete discussion of run type codes and their application.

Information concerning the accuracy and appropriate uses of these data may be obtained from the U.S. or Canadian National BBS Coordinator.

These data are the result of efforts by thousands of U.S. and Canadian BBS participants in the field, as well as, USGS and CWS researchers and managers. All publications based on these data should acknowledge all of these efforts. If a publication is based solely on the analysis of BBS data, we suggest that you involve the BBS office with the writing and/or review of the manuscript. We would also appreciate receiving a reprint or photocopy of any such article at the time of its publication.

Currently no Mexican BBS data are available. We anticipate providing such data on a limited basis in 2009.

Finally, if you are not already doing so, we encourage you to participate in the North American Breeding Bird Survey by running a route yourself. All that is required is a thorough knowledge of the bird vocalizations in your area, good hearing and a reliable vehicle. Thank you for supporting our program.