eBird Web Checklist Export

WHAT IT DOES

eBird Web Checklist Export automatically scans eBird checklist pages and extracts comprehensive bird sighting data including species name, count, observation date, location, habitat type, observer notes, and status. The tool compiles all sighting data into a structured view with a scrollable list where you can select individual sightings or select all with a single checkbox. Summary statistics display total species count, total individual birds, and the most common species at a glance. With one click, you can export the selected sighting data as a CSV file ready for spreadsheet analysis or copy it directly to your clipboard. The tool saves your field selection preferences across sessions, so you always export the data you care about most. This makes it easy to track your birding history, analyze species patterns, or share your checklist data with fellow birders.

WHERE IT RUNS

This extension operates exclusively on ebird.org domain pages that contain checklist content—specifically pages with "/checklist" or "/view" in the URL path, or pages that display bird sighting lists and observation data. It works alongside the free BotGentz companion extension, which provides the necessary DOM access and page interaction capabilities. The checklist exporter runs entirely within your local browser instance and does not communicate with any external servers or APIs. All sighting data extraction, selection, and CSV generation occurs on your machine, ensuring your birding data and checklist history remain private. It supports all modern Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera) and Firefox when paired with the BotGentz bridge.

HOW TO USE

After installing both BotGentz and this checklist exporter, navigate to any eBird checklist page. Within 1-2 seconds, a panel appears in the bottom-right corner displaying a summary of your checklist including total species, total individual birds, and most common species. The "Sightings" section lists each sighting with its species name, count, and location in a scrollable list with checkboxes. Use the "Select All" checkbox to quickly select all sightings, or select individual sightings manually. The "Export" section lets you choose which fields to include in your export—Species, Count, Date, Location, Habitat, Notes, and Status—with each field toggleable. Click "Export Selected CSV" to download the selected data as a CSV file, or click "Copy CSV" to copy it directly to your clipboard. Your field selection preferences are saved automatically across sessions.

BIRD SIGHTING EXTRACTION AND CSV GENERATION

The checklist exporter uses a multi-strategy extraction system to locate and parse bird sighting data from eBird pages. It first attempts to find structured sighting elements using selectors based on the site's typical class naming patterns, including "sighting-item," "sighting-row," "species-row," and "checklist-item." When these selectors fail due to site updates, the tool falls back to scanning page content for species-like text patterns, looking for elements that contain species names with binomial nomenclature patterns or count indicators. For each detected sighting, the tool extracts species name through element selection or pattern matching for capitalized species names, count through pattern matching for numeric values with "x" or count indicators, date through pattern matching for common date formats, location through element selection or pattern matching for "location:" labels, habitat through pattern matching for "habitat:" labels, notes through element selection or pattern matching for "notes:" or "comments:" labels, and status through keyword detection for "Present," "Observed," or "Confirmed." The CSV generation function creates properly quoted and escaped CSV data with customizable headers based on the selected fields.

THE PANEL

The checklist exporter panel is a compact, functional overlay that integrates into the eBird checklist page. It can be dragged by clicking and holding the title bar, positioning the panel anywhere on the screen for optimal visibility while you review your checklist. The panel includes a built-in snap feature that automatically aligns to the nearest screen edge when released within 48 pixels, keeping your workspace organized. Click the collapse arrow in the top-right corner to minimize the panel to a small icon bubble showing a gear emoji, preserving screen space while keeping the tool accessible. The panel is not resizable in this version, maintaining a consistent compact size that works on all screen resolutions. Press the Escape key to instantly hide the panel; press Escape again to restore it. All position, collapse state, and field selection preferences are saved locally using GM_setValue and persist across browsing sessions.

PLEASE NOTE

This extension requires the free BotGentz extension to function—the checklist exporter does not work standalone. eBird occasionally updates its page layouts and checklist presentation formats, which may temporarily affect data extraction accuracy. The tool extracts sighting data from the visible page content; if checklist data is loaded dynamically after page load, you may need to wait a moment or refresh the page for the panel to populate. The CSV export uses standard CSV formatting with proper quoting for fields containing commas or quotes. The tool does not store or transmit any data; all sighting data extraction, selection, and CSV generation is performed entirely within your browser. This tool is designed for personal birding record-keeping and is not affiliated with or endorsed by eBird or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Always verify sighting data against the official eBird records before relying on exported data for official or scientific purposes.