This dataset integrates multi-year line-transect bird surveys conducted between 2011 and 2020 across 12 study regions in Gansu Province, northwestern China. It contains 118 permanent transects, 1,043 sampling events, and 27,077 georeferenced occurrence records documenting 157,345 individual birds. Following taxonomic verification, name standardization, and consolidation of duplicated nomenclatural variants, the dataset comprises 364 species, 200 genera, 65 families, and 21 orders. The most abundant species were the Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus; 12.57% of all individuals) and the Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus; 10.43%). The dataset is structured as a Darwin Core Event Core and Occurrence Extension. A sampling event represents one complete survey of one permanent transect on a specific date and survey order. Occurrence records are linked to sampling events through eventID; multiple occurrence records may correspond to the same species within one sampling event when separate detections were recorded. Surveys were concentrated between April and July. The dataset therefore provides a standardized baseline for analyses of spring and early-summer avian occurrence, abundance, community composition, habitat associations, regional species turnover, and effort-adjusted temporal patterns. It should not be interpreted as an exhaustive inventory of the complete year-round avifauna of Gansu Province.
","language":"eng","citation":{"text":"Wu M, Gong Y, Zhang X, Gao Y, Bao X, Zhao W, Luo S, Cong P, Xu Z, Zhao Q, Song S (2026). Occurrence dataset of birds from multi-region avifaunal surveys in Gansu Province, China (2011-2020). Version 1.2. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/s6rndz accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-10-11.","citationProvidedBySource":false},"contactsCitation":[{"key":7088372,"abbreviatedName":"Wu M","firstName":"Mengling","lastName":"Wu","roles":["ORIGINATOR","METADATA_AUTHOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088373,"abbreviatedName":"Gong Y","firstName":"Yuhan","lastName":"Gong","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088374,"abbreviatedName":"Zhang X","firstName":"Xiwang","lastName":"Zhang","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088375,"abbreviatedName":"Gao Y","firstName":"Yabo","lastName":"Gao","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088376,"abbreviatedName":"Bao X","firstName":"Xinkang","lastName":"Bao","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088377,"abbreviatedName":"Zhao W","firstName":"Wei","lastName":"Zhao","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088378,"abbreviatedName":"Luo S","firstName":"Shuang","lastName":"Luo","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088379,"abbreviatedName":"Cong P","firstName":"Peihao","lastName":"Cong","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088380,"abbreviatedName":"Xu Z","firstName":"Zheping","lastName":"Xu","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088381,"abbreviatedName":"Zhao Q","firstName":"Qingshan","lastName":"Zhao","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]},{"key":7088382,"abbreviatedName":"Song S","firstName":"Sen","lastName":"Song","roles":["ORIGINATOR"],"userId":[]}],"lockedForAutoUpdate":false,"createdBy":"a2fa5b68-3ebf-4845-abc5-f456d251386f","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-03-30T00:58:56.930+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.606+00:00","contacts":[{"key":7088372,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"Mengling","lastName":"Wu","position":[],"email":["wumengling200211@163.com"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.571+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.571+00:00"},{"key":7088373,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Yuhan","lastName":"Gong","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.574+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.574+00:00"},{"key":7088374,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Xiwang","lastName":"Zhang","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.576+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.576+00:00"},{"key":7088375,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Yabo","lastName":"Gao","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.577+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.577+00:00"},{"key":7088376,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Xinkang","lastName":"Bao","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.578+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.578+00:00"},{"key":7088377,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Wei","lastName":"Zhao","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.579+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.579+00:00"},{"key":7088378,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Shuang","lastName":"Luo","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.580+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.580+00:00"},{"key":7088379,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Peihao","lastName":"Cong","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.581+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.581+00:00"},{"key":7088380,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Zheping","lastName":"Xu","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Department of Information Resources Management, School of Economics and Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences","address":[],"city":"Beijing","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.582+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.582+00:00"},{"key":7088381,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Qingshan","lastName":"Zhao","position":[],"email":["qszhao@rcees.ac.cn"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"State Key Laboratory of Regional and Urban Ecology, Research Centre for Eco-Environmental sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences","address":[],"city":"Beijing","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.583+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.583+00:00"},{"key":7088382,"type":"ORIGINATOR","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Sen","lastName":"Song","position":[],"email":["songsen@lzu.edu.cn"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.584+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.584+00:00"},{"key":7088383,"type":"METADATA_AUTHOR","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"Mengling","lastName":"Wu","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"Lanzhou university","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.585+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.585+00:00"},{"key":7088384,"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":true,"userId":[],"firstName":"Sen","lastName":"Song","position":[],"email":["songsen@lzu.edu.cn"],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"organization":"School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University","address":[],"city":"Lanzhou","province":"Gansu","country":"CN","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","modifiedBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.586+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.586+00:00"}],"endpoints":[{"key":1308120,"type":"DWC_ARCHIVE","url":"https://www.gbifchina.org.cn/archive.do?r=gansu_avian_survey_2011-2020","createdBy":"a2fa5b68-3ebf-4845-abc5-f456d251386f","modifiedBy":"a2fa5b68-3ebf-4845-abc5-f456d251386f","created":"2026-07-25T08:09:30.738+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:09:30.738+00:00","machineTags":[]},{"key":1308119,"type":"EML","url":"https://www.gbifchina.org.cn/eml.do?r=gansu_avian_survey_2011-2020","createdBy":"a2fa5b68-3ebf-4845-abc5-f456d251386f","modifiedBy":"a2fa5b68-3ebf-4845-abc5-f456d251386f","created":"2026-07-25T08:09:30.685+00:00","modified":"2026-07-25T08:09:30.685+00:00","machineTags":[]}],"machineTags":[{"key":33014039,"namespace":"crawler.gbif.org","name":"crawl_attempt","value":"24","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-10-05T01:07:25.568+00:00"}],"tags":[],"identifiers":[{"key":471115,"type":"UUID","identifier":"d0b2078d-d32e-4fc2-b88b-4d0f778c8dd1","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.588+00:00","primary":false},{"key":465113,"type":"URL","identifier":"https://www.gbifchina.org.cn/resource?r=gansu_avian_survey_2011-2020","createdBy":"crawler.gbif.org","created":"2026-03-30T00:59:59.770+00:00","primary":false}],"comments":[],"bibliographicCitations":[],"curatorialUnits":[],"taxonomicCoverages":[{"description":"N/A","coverages":[{"scientificName":"Stenostiridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Troglodytidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Suliformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Estrildidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Laridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Sylviidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Corvidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Cuculiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Upupidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Phylloscopidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Anseriformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Columbidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Regulidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Motacillidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Muscicapidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Animalia","rank":{"verbatim":"kingdom","interpreted":"KINGDOM"}},{"scientificName":"Phalacrocoracidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Cuculidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Galliformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Aegithalidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Podicipedidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Emberizidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Passeriformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Pycnonotidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Zosteropidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Rostratulidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Pelecaniformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Ciconiiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Pteroclidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Picidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Falconiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Leiothrichidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Accipitriformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Sittidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Pandionidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Sturnidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Cettiidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Chordata","rank":{"verbatim":"phylum","interpreted":"PHYLUM"}},{"scientificName":"Gruiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Fringillidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Paradoxornithidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Scolopacidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Columbiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Alcedinidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Aves","rank":{"verbatim":"class","interpreted":"CLASS"}},{"scientificName":"Apodiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Ibidorhynchidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Charadriiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Charadriidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Threskiornithidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Passeridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Gruidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Recurvirostridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Bucerotiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Bombycillidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Prunellidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Accipitridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Podicipediformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Hirundinidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Campephagidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Strigidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Alaudidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Otididae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Caprimulgiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Tichodromadidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Phasianidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Pterocliformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Panuridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Falconidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Timaliidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Apodidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Turdidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Rallidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Acrocephalidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Caprimulgidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Strigiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Otidiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Cinclidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Piciformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Coraciiformes","rank":{"verbatim":"order","interpreted":"ORDER"}},{"scientificName":"Laniidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Paridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Ardeidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Locustellidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Oriolidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Dicruridae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Cisticolidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Ciconiidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}},{"scientificName":"Anatidae","rank":{"verbatim":"family","interpreted":"FAMILY"}}]}],"geographicCoverages":[{"description":"The monitoring data encompasses the entirety of Gansu Province, China, spanning a geographical range from approximately 94.65°E to 105.71°E in longitude and from approximately 33.00°N to 42.08°N in latitude. This dataset incorporates a diverse array of ecosystems, including northwestern desert regions, central river valley wetlands, and southern plateau forests.","boundingBox":{"minLatitude":33.0,"maxLatitude":42.08,"minLongitude":94.65,"maxLongitude":105.71,"globalCoverage":false}}],"temporalCoverages":[{"@type":"range","start":"2011-04-23T00:00:00.000+00:00","end":"2020-06-27T00:00:00.000+00:00"}],"keywordCollections":[{"thesaurus":"GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type_2015-07-10.xml","keywords":["Samplingevent;Gansu Province; Birds; Occurrence dataset; Line-transect survey; Biodiversity monitoring;Darwin Core; GBIF; Observation"]},{"thesaurus":"GBIF Dataset Subtype Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_subtype.xml","keywords":["Observation"]}],"project":{"title":"A Sampling-event Dataset from multi-region avifaunal surveys in Gansu Province, China (2011-2020)","contacts":[{"type":"ADMINISTRATIVE_POINT_OF_CONTACT","primary":false,"userId":[],"firstName":"Sen","lastName":"Song","position":[],"email":[],"phone":[],"homepage":[],"address":[]}],"funding":"This work was supported by Biodiversity Survey, Observation and Assessment Program of the Department of Ecology and Environment.","awards":[],"relatedProjects":[]},"samplingDescription":{"studyExtent":"The dataset covers 12 study regions in Gansu Province: Subei Mongol Autonomous County, Yumen City, Lanzhou City, Luqu County, the Longnan survey region (Wudu District), Tianzhu County, Gaotai County, Minqin County, the Tianshui survey region (Maiji District), the Pingliang survey region (Kongtong District), Wen County, and Dunhuang City. The starting coordinates of the permanent transects span approximately 93.75-106.72°E and 32.74-41.95°N.\nSurvey periods differed among regions. Subei was surveyed from 2011 to 2018. Yumen, Lanzhou, Luqu, and the Longnan survey region were surveyed from 2011 to 2020. Tianzhu was surveyed from 2014 to 2020. Gaotai, Minqin, Tianshui, Pingliang, Wen County, and Dunhuang were surveyed from 2016 to 2018. Exact sampling dates are retained at the event level in the dataset.","sampling":"Following field assessment of habitat representativeness, accessibility, and long-term repeatability, 118 permanent transects, generally 1-2 km in length, were established. Transects were assigned to six broad dominant habitat categories using original site descriptions, field notes, and geographic context: alpine meadow/alpine steppe (22 transects), riverine wetland/oasis wetland (27), temperate desert/semi-desert (16), Gobi Desert (14), mountain forest/broadleaf forest (21), and shrubland/grassland mosaic (18). These categories describe broad landscape contexts rather than standardized plot-level vegetation measurements.\nSurveys were conducted between April and July under favorable weather conditions, generally during 07:00-12:00 and 14:00-17:00. A team of four experienced observers walked each transect at approximately 1-2 km per hour. Each survey usually lasted 50-70 minutes, depending on transect length and terrain. Birds detected visually or aurally within a 50-m lateral buffer on both sides of the transect were identified and counted. Observers used 8×40 binoculars, and photographic documentation was obtained with a Canon 6D Mark II camera and Canon EF 100-400 mm lens when confirmation was required. Species identification was checked with the China Birdwatching Handbook.\nTransect start and end coordinates were recorded with handheld GPS devices using the WGS84 geodetic datum. Species identity, individual count, and available field notes were first recorded on paper field sheets and later digitized in Microsoft Excel. From 2013 onward, surveys followed a standardized field protocol along fixed monitoring routes. Records from the methodological-development period of 2011-2012 were retained only after manual examination of field sheets, photographs, dates, and spatial information; ambiguous or incomplete records were excluded.\nThe number of repeat visits was not uniform because the dataset integrates several regional monitoring programmes. The 1,043 sampling events were distributed among 438 surveyed transect-years. Most surveyed transect-years were visited twice (387 of 438; 88.4%), whereas 10 were visited once and 41 were visited three or more times. Users should therefore retain event-level information and account for variation in sampling effort, survey date, geographic coverage, and repeat-visit frequency in comparative analyses.","qualityControl":"All observers received standardized training in bird identification and survey procedures before fieldwork. Species requiring confirmation, including morphologically similar or conservation-significant taxa, were photographed when possible and reviewed by experienced ornithologists. Records lacking sufficient diagnostic information for reliable species-level identification were excluded from the final dataset.\nDigitized records underwent multi-stage verification. Dates, transect identifiers, coordinates, species identifications, and individual counts were checked against original field sheets, photographs, GPS logs, and available EXIF metadata. Data-entry discrepancies were reviewed by trained team members and resolved using the original evidence. Coordinates were screened for implausible values and spatial inconsistencies and were compared with topographic maps and high-resolution satellite imagery. Records with unresolved spatial, temporal, or identification problems were removed.\nTaxonomic names were cross-referenced with the fourth edition of A Checklist on the Classification and Distribution of the Birds of China. Synonyms, obsolete combinations, spelling variants, author-year formatting differences, and duplicated nomenclatural entries were reviewed and standardized. The final taxonomic dataset contains 364 species, 200 genera, 65 families, and 21 orders. The Event Core and Occurrence Extension are linked through eventID, and occurrenceID uniquely identifies each occurrence record.","methodSteps":["Regional sampling effort was as follows: Subei County, 10 permanent transects and 58 sampling events (2011-2018); Yumen City, 10 transects and 126 events (2011-2020); Lanzhou City, 12 transects and 133 events (2011-2020); Luqu County, 13 transects and 151 events (2011-2020); Longnan survey region, 10 transects and 128 events (2011-2020); Tianzhu County, 10 transects and 105 events (2014-2020); Gaotai County, 3 transects and 13 events (2016-2018); Minqin County, 10 transects and 72 events (2016-2018); Tianshui survey region, 10 transects and 60 events (2016-2018); Pingliang survey region, 10 transects and 77 events (2016-2018); Wen County, 10 transects and 60 events (2016-2018); and Dunhuang City, 10 transects and 60 events (2016-2018). In total, the dataset includes 118 permanent transects and 1,043 sampling events.\nFor each event, observers completed one survey of a permanent transect, recorded all eligible visual and auditory detections, and documented the number of individuals associated with each occurrence. After fieldwork, records were digitized, reconciled with event-level metadata, taxonomically standardized, and formatted for publication as a Darwin Core sampling-event dataset. The resulting resource contains one Event Core record per sampling event and an associated Occurrence Extension comprising 27,077 occurrence records. Separate detections of the same species within an event may be retained as separate occurrence records."]},"countryCoverage":[],"collections":[],"dataDescriptions":[],"dataLanguage":"eng","purpose":"Gansu Province lies at an important biogeographic junction linking the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Loess Plateau, and the arid regions of Central Asia. It also overlaps the Central Asian Flyway and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Its alpine meadows, riverine and oasis wetlands, temperate deserts, Gobi landscapes, mountain forests, and shrubland-grassland mosaics provide breeding, stopover, and seasonal habitats for diverse resident and migratory birds, including species of conservation concern such as the Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis), Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides), Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and Black Stork (Ciconia nigra).
Standardized, openly accessible avian data covering multiple ecological regions of northwestern China remain limited. This dataset was compiled to provide a reproducible regional baseline from asynchronous, multi-year monitoring programmes conducted across Gansu. Its principal applications include analyses of bird occurrence, abundance, habitat associations, spatial community variation, and temporal patterns for common and sufficiently detected species. Because survey effort, regional coverage, and repeat-visit frequency varied among regions, transects, and years, analyses should explicitly account for unequal effort and imperfect detection where appropriate.
The seasonal coverage also defines the appropriate scope of use. Models developed from these data should be interpreted as representing spring and early-summer distributions. The dataset should not be used alone to estimate complete annual species richness, autumn migration patterns, wintering community composition, year-round occupancy or abundance, complete annual migration phenology, or seasonal turnover across the full annual cycle. Such applications require complementary autumn and winter surveys or integration with independent seasonal datasets.
","acknowledgements":"This study was supported by the Biodiversity Survey, Observation and Assessment Program of the Department of Ecology and Environment. Acknowledgement: We express our gratitude to the environmental protection agencies at various administrative levels and the local community personnel in Gansu Province for their invaluable support. We also acknowledge the significant contributions of Song Jingshu, Hu Jie, Jiang Bo, Zeng Jinyuan, Luo Juanjuan, Ding Li, Qi Yue, Qin Jiahui, Cao Shuhui, and others in conducting the field investigation.
","pubDate":"2026-07-25T00:00:00.000+00:00","maintenanceUpdateFrequency":"AS_NEEDED","maintenanceDescription":"","license":"http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode","dwca":{"coreType":"http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/Event","extensions":["http://rs.tdwg.org/dwc/terms/Occurrence"],"modified":"2026-07-25T08:10:38.487+00:00"},"approximateCounts":{"occurrenceCount":27077}}