hello Steve et al
I am presently wrestling with "My Bird Observations" - trying to import my
life list records (worldwide) from Birdstack into it via several csv files. So
far it has imported 329 of 2194 records and has crashed regularly while doing
so. May not like my old iphone (3 not 4). The developer is doing her best to
assist and got the whole imported on her phone (which is probably newer than
mine).
Making a record in the field is different to the Australian Birdsight
application and seems to take longer; because the country defaults to the
USandA
so you have to spin that Apple wheel a while to get up to A for Australia. All
countries are there.
Give it a go. MyBirdObs is still being worked on and I am sure they'd like
more feedback.
However, I still find a little pocket-sized hardback notebook and waterproof
ballpoint still the best recording device - can sketch a mystery bird as it
flies off into the rainy forest (phone doesn't like rain).
Helen
<')/////==<
________________________________
From: Steve Potter <>
To: ;
Sent: Mon, 20 June, 2011 10:44:48
Subject: World Bird Sightings and iPhone Software
Dear Frank et al..
After a tip off from Martin Cake re iPhone site recording software called
'My Bird Observations'
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-bird-observations/id368734113?mt=8
I have been perusing the archives again re World bird recording products and
came across your excellent summary of such things in 2009.
Question to Frank: What did you end up going with and what is your
assessment? Any Updates on this?
Question to List: Has anyone found any other products for world birding on
the iPhone other than the above? Birdsite is great but only for a couple of
countries as far as I can see.
Thanks
Steve Potter
World Bird Sightings Software - Addendum
from [
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/namazu.cgi?query=%2Bfr
om%3Afoconnor%40iinet.net.au&idxname=birding-aus&sort=date%3Alate> Frank
O'Connor]
[Permanent
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/mesg.cgi?a=birding-aus
&i=6.0.0.22.2.20090717185233.01fc3af0%40mail.iinet.net.au> Link][Original
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/extract-mesg.cgi?a=bir
ding-aus&m=2009-07&i=6.0.0.22.2.20090717185233.01fc3af0%40mail.iinet.net.au>
]
To:
Subject:
World Bird Sightings Software - Addendum
From:
Frank O'Connor <>
Date:
Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:01:40 +0800
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/> 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/>
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 [
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/namazu.cgi?query=%2Bfr
om%3Afoconnor%40iinet.net.au&idxname=birding-aus&sort=date%3Alate> Frank
O'Connor] [Permanent
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/mesg.cgi?a=birding-aus
&i=6.0.0.22.2.20090713014733.01faa230%40mail.iinet.net.au> Link][Original
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/cgi-bin/extract-mesg.cgi?a=bir
ding-aus&m=2009-07&i=6.0.0.22.2.20090713014733.01faa230%40mail.iinet.net.au>
]
To: m(
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2009-07/%3Csc
ript%20language=> "vicnet.net.au","birding-aus");">
Subject: World Bird Sightings Software
From: Frank O'Connor < m(
<http://bioacoustics.cse.unsw.edu.au/archives/html/birding-aus/2009-07/%3Csc
ript%20language=> "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
<http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au/>
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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