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New Web Portal Launched

We are excited to announce the Natural Heritage Information Portal, a new state-of-the-art web tool for accessing information on Montana's biological resources. The first version now available on our website serves the Montana Bird Distribution database, which displays the statewide distribution of bird species by quarter degree of latitude and longitude, consistent with P.D. Skaar's Montana Bird Distribution publication (Lenard et al. 2003).

Using this new tool, anyone wishing to contribute data can enter precise locations for bird sightings in an easy-to-use, map-based interface. Users can also view detailed information on sightings they have entered, as well as general locations for all records statewide. Several different base maps can be selected, including the state highway map, topographic and shaded relief maps, and air photos.

The NHIPortal will expand to become our principle tool for disseminating Natural Heritage Program data. As time and funding allow, we will be adding data on other animals, plants, and ecosystems. Among the datasets targeted for addition over the next year are:

• Amphibian observations and photos from the Montana Amphibian Inventory Project

• Statewide aquatic data linked to our ecological classification of streams and rivers

• Animal observations from the NHP/MFWP Point Observation Database.

• Element Occurrences for Plant and Animal Species of Concern, linked to Field Guide information.

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