Originally posted April 9th — We are thrilled to report the release of the new BirdsEye BirdLog app for the iPhone and Android smartphones and iPad, which for the first time allows quick-and-easy data entry directly from the field. Almost since the inception of eBird, we have longed for the ability to easily record and submit bird observations in a single step while birding in the field. BirdLog promises to transform eBirding, replacing the field notebook with an integrated, simple process for tallying birds and submitting directly to the eBird database. The use of the phone’s GPS makes it simple to provide precise locations, and other automated checks ensure continuing high data quality standards and actually make it easier to submit highly accurate data to eBird. Species can be entered by scrolling a list, typing the bird name, or using the four-letter code and can be tallied as you go for more accurate counting. This is a transformative moment for eBird since BirdLog makes recording eBird checklists easier and more accurate, all at the same time.
We have found that the time investment needed both to record birds in your notebook and then come home and enter them again in eBird is one of the biggest barriers to more widespread participation in eBird. Please tell your birding friends–this app makes participation in eBird a lot easier, which in turn increases eBird’s value as a tool for birders, scientists, and conservationists.
You can get the BirdLog app here, in either North American or Worldwide versions:
BirdLog for iPhone (North America)
BirdLog for Android (North America)
We have found that the time saved by entering eBird data directly from the field is considerable, which makes BirdLog well worth the price. A portion of each purchase directly supports the eBird project, so we encourage you to consider making the investment.
For the three of us that work as Project Leaders for eBird, this app has already changed our eBirding, allowing us to enter more lists and enter them more accurately. The app really does improve the quality of our checklists, given the ability to easily tally birds as you go (and thus count them more accurately), automatically capture the time and duration, and to use the phone’s GPS and map interface for greater precision with locations. We do encourage users to check our our ‘BirdLog best practices’ document as well and especially to make sure to continue to enter detailed supportive comments for rare birds that you observe.
Below are some of our reactions.
“We hear phrases like ‘revolutionize birding’ all too frequently, but BirdLog will actually do it! BirdLog will fundamentally change the way we go birding, making it easier than ever for birders to share observations among themselves and with the science and conservation community. Let the revolution begin.” —Chris Wood
“My field notebook has always been the ‘middle man’ between my birding and my eBirding, but now BirdLog streamlines that process. I enter more checklists, simply because it’s so easy, and still have more free time at home. I’ve waited for in-the-field data entry for years, and BirdLog’s simple interface not only makes it easy; it maximizes your data’s utility for eBird, science, and conservation.” —Marshall Iliff
“eBird transformed my birding back in 2005, and BirdLog is about to do it again. The ability to record real-time bird observations in the field and have them flow directly into the eBird database has huge implications, not just for birders and eBird, but for citizen-science in general. BirdLog will be as essential as your binoculars, making recording your bird observations fun, easy, and more accurate.”—Brian Sullivan
BirdLog is available for iPhone and iPad via the iTunes app store or at the Google Play app store for Android devices. A portion of the proceeds goes to fund research and conservation work at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. BirdLog was developed by Birds In The Hand, LLC, of Virginia, creators of the BirdsEye bird-finding app, available for iPhone.
Posted by Marshall Iliff, Chris Wood, and Brian Sullivan (9 April 2012)