World Bird Sightings Software - Addendum

[Frank O'Connor <>]

I have received some more input. I have kept it as one document, so that
interested people only need to print one message.

It has been pointed out, that you should not choose a product that
doesn't allow you to extract your data out to an Excel file, or a CSV
file or something similar that can be imported to another package. 
Vice versa, it is preferable if the product can import data from another
source, as you may have data in Excel or another system already. 
This is to protect you if the product is no longer supported, or you
decide to change to another product at a later date.


I have been told of more products.

Bird Journal
http://www.bluebirdtechnology.com/BirdJournal.aspx

 This looks like an excellent product for recording bird
sightings.  It has no facility for mammals, etc.  It does have
the C&B2008 taxonomy, plus Clements and several others (not certain
if IOC is one of them. i.e. the BOU taxonomy?).  It also has a
facility to share data with EBird.  The cost is A$118 (A$58 just for
C&B2008).  Bluebird Technology is a UK company.  You get
the product by downloading it, so delivery is very quick!  You can
download a free trial version.  It looks very easy to use.  It
allows you to attach photos easily.  This looks like a very high
quality product for recording birds.

Birder's Diary
http://www.birdersdiary.com/

 I think this is a British product, although the prices are in $ (I
think US$ but not sure. It may be smart like Bird Journal and work out
where you are).  The cost is $79 for the full version, plus you need
to purchase one or more taxonomies.  It uses Clements ($99), and
also has C&B2008 ($49).  It can in theory handle mammals,
etc.  But it needs someone to define the taxonomy and this hasn't
been done for the world, or for Australia.  It also has a facility
to share data with eBird.  It sends output to the printer, or as
HTML, or as a PDF file or as an RTF file that can be imported into
Word.  This product is also downloaded, and you can get a 30 day
trial period.  This looks a little complicated (but probably no more
complicated that Wildlife Recorder which I still favour), but it has a
lot of potential for the future if people help define the taxonomies for
World mammals, reptiles, frogs, etc.

Avisys
http://www.avisys.net/

 This is a US product.  It uses Clements.  They stress that
taxonomic updates are free.  It also allows sharing of data with
eBird.


There were quite a few other products I found through Google and other
means, but they mostly seemed superficial or were products for PDAs,
etc.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you to those who replied to my request for information.  There
are quite a few others with similar needs.  Here is a quick summary
of what I have found.

There are a number of web sites where bird sightings can be recorded
online.  As far as I could ascertain, they are all free to
use.  These include :

Avibase
http://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase.jsp

 This is designed by Denis Lepage and is hosted by Bird Studies
Canada, a partner of Birdlife International.  It certainly looks
like it is designed for all the birds of the world.  It has
checklists for many places around the world.  It looks like a very
good site if you are only interested in recording your bird
sightings.  It has 6 taxonomies that you can choose from including
IOC, Clements, Howard & Moore and Sibley & Monroe.  I would
strongly recommend that you visit this site if you are heading overseas,
and print out a checklist of the area you are visiting.  It also has
lists for many Australian sites.  Doesn't seem to have any facility
for mammals, etc.

eBird
http://www.ebird.com

This is maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the US.  It seems to be mostly US centred, and it only records birds as far as I can tell.  I assume that it uses Clements 6 as they now maintain that list.  Has no facility for mammals, etc.  I couldn't find mention of it on their web site, but the person who told me of the product says that it won't cover Australia until 2010.  But he said it "was undoubtedly the best birding software", and so this is a product to keep an eye on.  As you will see below, several products provide a means of sharing the data with EBird.

Global Twitcher http://www.globaltwitcher.com 

This can be used to record sightings of birds, animals, plants, anything.  This is very extensive.  Not certain which taxonomy is used for birds.  It has the sub species.  You can print out checklists of places.  I haven't checked this out exhaustively, but it looks like a viable option.  Worth considering.

Birdstack http://birdstack.com/

 This uses the IOC 2.1 checklist.  The web site is confusing about how to use it, but it does look like an option.  It allows you to share your data with eBird.  Has no facility for mammals, etc.


Eremaea Birds http://www.eremaea.com/

 This is an Australian web site.  Many of you probably use to check the state birdlines.  It does have overseas sites as well.  It uses Clements.  I don't find it intuitive to use, but that would probably improve as you get to know it.  Has no facility for mammals, etc.


One person has written their own database using the IOC checklist.


However, my main interest was for a database to record my sightings on my PC.  I have found details of a few packages.  They are World Bird Plus, BirdBase, Birdinfo and Wildlife Recorder.

BirdBase http://birdbase.com/index.html

 They claim this is the most used software in the US for birders with more than 1400 species worldwide.  It does let you print checklists for an area you are going to visit, marking those you have seen and those that are endemic.  It has options to add on mammals and butterflies.  This also allows you to share your data with eBird.  They use Clements 6.  If this is the taxonomy you prefer, then this would probably be worth considering.  The cost is US$100, but you would probably need to add US$30 for the sub species plus US$45 for the mammals.  Plus US$12 delivery costs.  The butterflies would cost an extra US$85, and then you would need to load the Australian species list, so this is not really practical.

Birdinfo 

This is an Australian product.  Several people said they use it for their Australian bird sightings, and a couple use it for their world list.  No information on the web.  You are referred to Simon Bennett and his email   The people who use describe it as excellent.  It has the Clements 2000 taxonomy as an option, but he now only maintains the Australian list (C&B2008). It does have the facility to print checklists for countries and areas, and allows you to modify them.  It does allow you to record Australian records of mammals, reptiles, butterflies, etc.  It seems that this would be the best product for Australian sightings, but not for world sightings, especially as time goes on.


World Bird Plus

I have found it very hard to find information about this product, other than that it exists (at least in August 2008).  It seems that John Penhallurick maintains it.  He is Australian (often posts to this list).  It didn't seem to be able to handle mammals, so I didn't follow this up further.


Wildlife Recorder (Basic & Professional) http://www.wildlife.co.uk/birding_software/Default.htm

 One person recommended this UK product.  It comes with world birds and mammals.  You choose from a list of taxonomies including IOC, and can easily switch between them.  It is more expensive at GBP100 plus GDP3.50 delivery for the Professional version which most suits my needs.  This also gives me the option of defining my Australian reptiles, frog, butterfly and orchids.  I could do this, but they said if I supplied them with the electronic lists then they would do it.  I am impressed by the web site.  I am very impressed with their response to an email I sent them.  Within two hours they replied with relevant answers to all questions.  It has an option of speech recognition, but I am don't plan to go for this.  It has a Pocket Recorder interface for use on mobile phones or at least PDAs.  It allows you to print checklists of areas that you will be visiting, with details of what you have already seen.  It sends output to the printer, or as HTML, or as a PDF file or as an RTF file that can be imported into Word.  It also has a facility to share data with eBird.  Taxonomic and program updates cost GBP15 per year after the first 12 months.


At this stage, I plan to purchase Wildlife Recorder Professional.  It seems to be the best fit for my needs, and it gives me confidence that it will be supported and improved in the future.  I suspect that it might be a little harder to use initially, as it seems to have a lot of "bells and whistles".  But I plan to wait a short while longer for further information.  So if anyone has anything extra to add, then please let me know.

World Bird Sightings Software

from [Frank O'Connor] [Permanent Link][Original]
To: m("vicnet.net.au","birding-aus");">
Subject: World Bird Sightings Software
From: Frank O'Connor < m("iinet.net.au","foconnor");">>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:03:44 +0800

I have reached the point where I want to collate my world list. I am looking for the best software to use to do this.

I thought that this was covered fairly well a while ago on birding-aus, but I can't find the postings through Google or the archives. There is mention of World Bird Plus and Birdinfo. I have Googled these but not found a lot of information other than where to purchase them.

I have the following requirements :

1. To keep my world bird (and hopefully mammal) records. Also if possible my Australian reptile, frog and butterfly records.

2. Taxonomy. I currently lean towards using the IOC (International Ornithological Congress) checklist as published in Birds of The World Recommended English Names by Frank Gill and Minturn Wright in 2006. The book includes a CD with an Excel spreadsheet. They have a web site which has the updates. I also have Clements 6th edition, but this taxonomy varies more from the Australian list.

3. I would like to record each state and territory for Australia. Elsewhere in the world it would not be important to sub divide countries.

4. I would need to record sightings of Introduced species, as I would count them on my country or state list, but not my world list. I understand that some software caters for this.

5. I understand that some software can print bird lists for an area before you visit, making it much easier to determine what species would be new and which I would have seen before. However, most trips that I go on have bird lists for each day, or I can get a list from various web sites such as Avibase, Surfbirds, etc. But I would need to go through and mark what I have seen previously.

So I would be grateful if the birding-aus community could recommend the best solution.

1. What programs are out there?

2. What taxonomies can be used by each of them?

3. How are taxonomic updates handled?

4. Do they handle mammals, etc?

5. Do they flag Introduced species?

6. Do they allow State & Territory lists which would be combined into a country list?

Any other factors that are important.

_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor           Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694              Email :

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