The methods that PECBMS uses to produce species population trends and indices and wild bird indicators have been described in several scientific papers. The internationally accepted standards according to which national monitoring schemes, being the data source for PECBMS, are organized, are available in textbooks and scientific papers. The PECBMS Best Practice Guide (Voříšek et al., 2008) contains much information on methods. But as a consequence, the information on methods is scattered.
We bring together all this information to facilitate the understanding of data collection and analysis procedures on this web page. The text in PECBMS Methods proceeds step by step, from national bird monitoring schemes to European multispecies bird indicators, and ends with a chapter on quality control performed at each step.
The most important questions that have been asked about PECBMS methods and interpretation of results are answered in Questions and Answers.
Here you can find a list of useful citations of publications for further reading on monitoring.
Download and read about programs used to determine species populations´ trends and to prepare and analyze bird counts data in a standardized way.