David Ziolkowski Jr.
Dave is a Wildlife Biologist at the USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center where he serves as the program ornithologist for the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS).
Dave has been actively involved in wildlife research for over 30 years, both in the U.S. and abroad, and has worked on myriad topics spanning the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, biogeography, toxicology, and population monitoring. He works to strengthen coordination and management of the scientifically rigorous, citizen-science based BBS, including building research and multi-level inter-agency partnerships, strategic planning, project management of web-enabled database applications, and quality engagement with thousands of highly-skilled volunteer observers. He is a recognized expert on birds and birdlife as well as in many other areas of natural history.
Professional Experience
2020-present, Wildlife Biologist, USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Patuxent Research Refuge
2005-2020, Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Oct 2007-Jan 2008, Information Specialist (Detail appointment), USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
2004-2005, Wildlife Toxicologist, Toxicology Directorate, US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
Education and Certifications
M.S. in Biology, University of Missouri St. Louis (2003)
B.S. in Biology, Towson University, MD (1997)
A.A. in Economics, Harford Community College, MD. (1995)
Honors and Awards
STAR Award, USGS. For management of the BBS program (2020)
Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, University of Missouri St. Louis (2000)
Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award, Towson University (1996)
Science and Products
Spatio-Temporal Statistical Models for Forecasting Climate Change Effects on Bird Distribution
Comprehensive 1966 - 2017 Results! North American Breeding Bird Survey
The North American Breeding Bird Survey: Refining Scale to Provide New Insights
2024 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966 - 2023)
The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Analysis Results 1966 - 2022
2023 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966 - 2022)
2022 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966-2021)
The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Analysis Results 1966 - 2019
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2019, version 2019.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2018, version 2018.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2017, version 2017.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2016, version 2016.0
Informative priors can account for location uncertainty in stop-level analyses of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), allowing fine-scale ecological analyses
The North American Breeding Bird Survey in Mexico, 2008 to 2018—A status report
Maryland birds through time series— New!
Strategic Plan for the North American Breeding Bird Survey, 2020–30
Migratory behavior and winter geography drive differential range shifts of eastern birds in response to recent climate change
Modeling spatially and temporally complex range dynamics when detection is imperfect
Consistency counts: Modeling the effects of a change in protocol on Breeding Bird Survey counts
How well do route survey areas represent landscapes at larger spatial extents? An analysis of land cover composition along Breeding Bird Survey routes
The first 50 years of the North American Breeding Bird Survey
Expanding the North American Breeding Bird Survey analysis to include additional species and regions
Estimating indices of range shifts in birds using dynamic models when detection is imperfect
The North American Breeding Bird Survey 1966–2011: Summary analysis and species accounts
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
North American Breeding Bird Survey Results and Analysis
This website provides visualizations of population change for North American birds using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The BBS is analyzed for a "core" area (contiguous United States and southern Canada, results available from 1966-present), and for an "expanded" survey area (including portions of Alaska and northern Canada with results from 1993-present).
Science and Products
Spatio-Temporal Statistical Models for Forecasting Climate Change Effects on Bird Distribution
Comprehensive 1966 - 2017 Results! North American Breeding Bird Survey
The North American Breeding Bird Survey: Refining Scale to Provide New Insights
2024 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966 - 2023)
The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Analysis Results 1966 - 2022
2023 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966 - 2022)
2022 Release - North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset (1966-2021)
The North American Breeding Bird Survey, Analysis Results 1966 - 2019
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2019, version 2019.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2018, version 2018.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2017, version 2017.0
North American Breeding Bird Survey Dataset 1966 - 2016, version 2016.0
Informative priors can account for location uncertainty in stop-level analyses of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), allowing fine-scale ecological analyses
The North American Breeding Bird Survey in Mexico, 2008 to 2018—A status report
Maryland birds through time series— New!
Strategic Plan for the North American Breeding Bird Survey, 2020–30
Migratory behavior and winter geography drive differential range shifts of eastern birds in response to recent climate change
Modeling spatially and temporally complex range dynamics when detection is imperfect
Consistency counts: Modeling the effects of a change in protocol on Breeding Bird Survey counts
How well do route survey areas represent landscapes at larger spatial extents? An analysis of land cover composition along Breeding Bird Survey routes
The first 50 years of the North American Breeding Bird Survey
Expanding the North American Breeding Bird Survey analysis to include additional species and regions
Estimating indices of range shifts in birds using dynamic models when detection is imperfect
The North American Breeding Bird Survey 1966–2011: Summary analysis and species accounts
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
North American Breeding Bird Survey Results and Analysis
This website provides visualizations of population change for North American birds using data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). The BBS is analyzed for a "core" area (contiguous United States and southern Canada, results available from 1966-present), and for an "expanded" survey area (including portions of Alaska and northern Canada with results from 1993-present).