Avian Knowledge Network (AKN): the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How
DoW AKN Air Force Virtual Training, June 9 & 11, 2026

Agenda
Exercises
Slides
Resources
Archive (coming soon)

Agenda

All times Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Tuesday, June 9
All times Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

0900 (65 min) — Welcome, Introductions, and the Avian Data Lifecycle

Welcome to the DoW / AKN workshop on using the AKN technologies for managing and utilizing avian data in the AKN.

  • Welcome and introductions
  • Review the workshop agenda
  • The Avian Data Lifecycle
  • What to do if you encounter technical problems

1005 (40 min) — AKN Project Data 101: project database, programs, protocols, and sampling units

We will cover how the AKN represents observational data and how to find the best way to organize and curate your data in a project database.

  • How the AKN organizes data
  • What is a Program?
  • What is a Project Database?
  • What is a Protocol?
  • Choosing and managing protocols (DEMONSTRATION of Project Leaders for configuring protocols, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)
  • What are Sampling Units?

1045 (60 min) — AKN Project Data 101: Sampling Units and Researchers

We will continue to cover how to create and manage metadata in our Project Database.

  • EXERCISE 1: Creating the Point Count sampling unit hierarchy (PDF)
  • Download the sampling units into a GIS file (DEMONSTRATION of Project Downloader for downloading sampling units, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)
  • What are Researchers?
  • Demonstration – Adding researchers (DEMONSTRATION of Project Leaders for adding researchers to your project, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)

1145 (35 min) — AKN Project Data 101: Entering Observation Data

We will cover how to enter observation data into the Project Database that is defined by the metadata we created.

  • EXERCISE 2: Enter and proof a point count field survey (PDF)
  • Downloading your point count data (DEMONSTRATION of Project Downloader for downloading observation data, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)

1220 (30 min) — AKN Project Data 101: Bulk loading data to a Project

We will cover how to bulk load data into the Project Database.

  • Templates for uploading, and batch processing
  • EXERCISE 3: Bulk loading sampling locations (PDF)

1250 (10 min) — Day 1 Wrap-up

1300 — Adjourn

Thursday, June 11
All times Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)

0900 (5 min) — Day 2 Introduction

0905 (5 min) — Editing Observation Data

0910 (20 min) — Data Sharing Levels

We will give an overview of what data sharing levels we have and how the project leader controls them.

  • What data sharing levels are available?
  • Motivations for sharing data
  • Setting data sharing levels (DEMONSTRATION of Project Leaders for setting sharing levels, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)

0930 (25 min) — AKN Warehouse Data 101

We will cover how data flows and is made available to other tools and users across DoW and the AKN.

  • What is a Data Warehouse?
  • Case Study: USFS Region 8
  • Downloading data from a Warehouse using Data Download (DEMONSTRATION of Data Downloader for downloading Level 5 data from the Warehouse, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)

0955 (5 min) — Data Ownership, Sharing, and Contractors

1000 (40 min) — Discovering observation data

We will cover how to discover other projects using the AKN.

  • (DEMONSTRATION of R.A.I.L. Tool for exploring avian species regionally, linked from the DOD AKN Portal)
  • EXERCISE 4: Create a species list with RAIL Tool (PDF)

1040 (50 min) — Looking for trends

We will explore solving some of the specific problems that are faced by DoW facilities.

  • Case Study: Migratory Shorebird Project
  • Looking at data in Analyst (DEMONSTRATION of Analysts for data review)
  • EXERCISE 5: Using the Analyst and Observations Map (PDF)
  • Case Study: ADALO

1130 (10 min) — Avian Data Life Cycle Round up

1140 (60 min) — DoW AKN Program Overview

We will cover plans and updates for DoW and the AKN.

  • DoW AKN Program Overview
  • AKN Tools and Resources
  • Case Study: Colonial Waterbird

1240 (10 min) — Next Steps for You

We will show how you will add new users as a Project Leader.

  • Creating a new log-in for a biologist or project leader (DEMONSTRATION of steps to register and approve a new user)
  • Assigning roles to project personnel (DEMONSTRATION in ProjectLeaders)
  • Creating a new researcher (DEMONSTRATION in ProjectLeaders)

1250 (10 min) — Wrap-up, Pluses and Deltas

Day 2 review.

  • Plus/Delta (PDF)
  • Final questions

1300 — Adjourn

Exercises

  • PRINTABLE PACKET: (ALL EXERCISES)
  • EXERCISE 1: Create sampling units for point count (PDF)
  • EXERCISE 2: Enter point count observations (PDF)
  • EXERCISE 3: Bulk loading sampling locations (PDF)
  • EXERCISE 4: Create a species list with RAIL Tool (PDF)
  • EXERCISE 5: Using the Observations Map and Analyst (PDF)
  • Exercise 5 Answer Key (PDF)

Extra credit:

  • EXERCISE A: Download sampling units (PDF)
  • EXERCISE B: Create and use area search sampling units (PDF)
  • EXERCISE C: Using the protocol search tool (PDF)
  • EXERCISE D: Setting data sharing levels (PDF)
  • EXERCISE E: Comparing data downloads (PDF)