Facilitating Large-Scale Bird Biodiversity Data Collection in Citizen Science: 'Relaxed' Point Counts for Anytime, Anywhere Monitoring.

Citizen science has expanded biodiversity monitoring, yet many datasets lack standardisation in spatial and temporal coverage and survey protocols. In birds, for example, traditional point count surveys often impose strict requirements on location, timing and spacing between survey points, limiting opportunities for casual, at-ease participation in data collection. To address these constraints, this paper proposes a 'relaxed' point-count survey method to enhance accessibility and expand geographic coverage by easing these constraints. Surveys can be conducted in diverse locations, including urban areas and travel or daily-routine routes, within flexible timeframes (e.g., not only within 6 h after sunrise but also afternoon/evening) and seasons (e.g., including non-breeding periods), with adaptable spacing between points and the option for repeated counts at the same location on different days. The framework addresses spatial and temporal autocorrelation, as well as variability in observer skill and environmental conditions through statistical adjustments using random effects and covariates. Preliminary data collected opportunistically across a large area of western Canada demonstrate the feasibility of this approach, yielding cross-biome community data within a short timeframe. By engaging birdwatchers and citizens, this approach facilitates the collection of large-scale, standardised species assemblage data beyond single-species observations. This inclusive and scalable strategy offers new opportunities for biodiversity monitoring, particularly in human-modified landscapes. This inclusive and scalable framework offers new opportunities for biodiversity monitoring, particularly in urban and human-modified landscapes.