About ornitho.de / ornitho.lu

Birds are hugely popular all over the world: no other species group attracts more interest than birds, and no other species has more information available about its distribution, populations and long-term changes. However, unlike the systematic recording of bird populations as part of bird monitoring, there has been no uniform collection of data on casual observations in Germany and Luxembourg that has been coordinated with all specialist institutions. These are observations made outside of systematic recording programmes, during excursions to interesting areas, on walks, on the way to work, from balconies or in gardens. As a result, this valuable information can only be scientifically evaluated or used for nature conservation work to a limited extent, especially on a supra-regional basis. This gap was closed in October 2011 by ornitho.de and ornitho.lu.

From local portal to the dawn of a new era in Germany and Luxembourg

Ornitho.deand ornitho.lu have their origins in ornitho.ch, which was launched in February 2003 in the Geneva area. In May 2004, it was extended to cover the entire French-speaking part of Switzerland, and since January 2007, observations can be entered for the whole of Switzerland. Ornitho portals are now also enjoying great and steadily growing popularity in France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Croatia, Catalonia and the Basque Country (see fig.). All these systems have the same basic structure, and you can use your ornitho.de login details to access all other ornitho portals. This not only makes it easier to enter observations in all these countries once you are familiar with one ornitho system (see note below), but also opens up a wide range of opportunities for international cooperation, such as cross-border presentations of avifaunal events. The DDA, as the legal entity behind ornitho.de, and natur&ëmwelt (Luxembourg), as the entity behind ornitho.lu, have thus opted for an established and technically mature portal that opens up exciting future prospects for avifaunistics – not least because the development, operation and further development of ornitho.de are carried out in close and trusting cooperation with all nationwide ornithological associations, many working groups active at the local level, as well as the state bird protection agencies and the federal and state nature conservation authorities responsible for the protection and preservation of biological diversity.

The launch of ornitho.de and ornitho.lu marked the beginning of a new era for avifaunal data collection in both countries, as it has never been easier or more convenient to report chance observations: No matter where you observe birds in Germany or Luxembourg, you can now report them regardless of your knowledge of the institution responsible for data collection in the respective region, and at the same time be sure that your observations will reach them and be incorporated into scientific and nature conservation evaluations.

Speaking of evaluations:

• Under Publications, you will find a selection of publications that incorporate data from ornitho.de and ornitho.lu, including the article "Revolution in the collection of bird observations in Germany: 10 years of ornitho.de" (2021).
• Under Annual reports, newsletters, you will find a compilation of regional circulars, newsletters and annual reports.