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.
Thanks Stewart,
For iPhone users information I am trialling the “My Birding Observations” App. Which is a bit like Birdsight but covers the world and can be uploaded to Birdstack and eBird. Also they have an Eremaea upload in the pipeline. Or would it be easier for Eremaea to adjust the way it imports??
I shall let you know how I find it if you are interested.
Steve Potter
Sent: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 1:59 PM Cc: Steve Potter; birding-aus@vicnet.net.au
A few additions to Frank’s excellent summary of the program.
I also use Wildlife Recorder but use the accessory mobile software Pocket Bird Recorder on a PDA to input trips into Wildlife Recorder. I find this to be easier than entering them into Wildlife Recorder. Pocket Bird Recorder integrates with the built-in or external GPS of your PDA, Palm or Android (upcoming) device, storing GPS co-ordinates in the field . You can also store multiple GPS co-ordinates for the same location, e.g. if you were on a pelagic trip and wanted to enter multiple gps locations under a single title. Unfortunately I have not heard talk of an iPhone app at this stage.
I rarely use a notebook these days – I enter the trips, locations, times & species into Pocket Bird Recorder on the PDA and then sync with Wildlife Recorder on my desktop, at which point I have access to all of the features that Frank has mentioned.
If you’re going birding in a different state or country, you simply upload the relevant state or country list to the PDA from Wildlife Recorder and get going.
I’ve been very happy with the combination of Wildlife Recorder and Pocket Bird Recorder.
Cheers,
Stewart
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A few additions to Frank’s excellent summary of the program.
I also use Wildlife Recorder but use the accessory mobile software Pocket Bird Recorder on a PDA to input trips into Wildlife Recorder. I find this to be easier than entering them into Wildlife Recorder. Pocket Bird Recorder integrates with the built-in or external GPS of your PDA, Palm or Android (upcoming) device, storing GPS co-ordinates in the field . You can also store multiple GPS co-ordinates for the same location, e.g. if you were on a pelagic trip and wanted to enter multiple gps locations under a single title. Unfortunately I have not heard talk of an iPhone app at this stage.
I rarely use a notebook these days – I enter the trips, locations, times & species into Pocket Bird Recorder on the PDA and then sync with Wildlife Recorder on my desktop, at which point I have access to all of the features that Frank has mentioned.
If you’re going birding in a different state or country, you simply upload the relevant state or country list to the PDA from Wildlife Recorder and get going.
I’ve been very happy with the combination of Wildlife Recorder and Pocket Bird Recorder.
Cheers,
Stewart
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
hello Steve et al My iphone now has 2194 world bird records on it (imported from text file) in the application “My Bird Observations”, thanks to the determined work by Gina Aguilera, the software developer. The data wouldn’t go in as csv files for some reason. Gina was very helpful. Once they are all in – and arranged in the taxonomy you want – it works a treat. Can set up filters for countries, states, counties and make lists for each.
that said, when the cassowary walked up to our car yesterday it was back to scribbling in notebook while taking photos (with phones, no camera with us) and just plain gazing in admiration at it. Helen
< ')/////==< ________________________________ Sent: Mon, 20 June, 2011 16:52:25 Hi Helen. Thanks for your response. I do have a iPhone 4 so I shall have a go. I found you can filter out the country/region you want and it seems to be quicker. Better in Indonesia as Birdsight doesn’t cover it! I’ll let you know how I go. Cheers Steve Sent: Monday, 20 June 2011 3:10 PM 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 <')/////==< ________________________________ Sent: Mon, 20 June, 2011 10:44:48 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> ]
birding-aus@vicnet.net.au
World Bird Sightings Software – Addendum
Frank O’Connor
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.
===============================
To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message: unsubscribe (in the body of the message, with no Subject line)
http://birding-aus.org ===============================
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
< ')/////==< ________________________________ Sent: Mon, 20 June, 2011 10:44:48 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> ]
birding-aus@vicnet.net.au
World Bird Sightings Software – Addendum
Frank O’Connor
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.