Digital Birding Resources
It may feel a bit inmidang to see the word “digital” associated with
birding. The term “digital” is so widely used and encompasses so
many dierent kinds of evolving technology that many people feel
overwhelmed when trying to broach the subject.
Keep in mind that everyone processes informaon dierently—some
are visual thinkers, some are strategic, some are problem-solvers.
Fortunately, digital technology in the birding world has a great deal
of variaon to t each individual’s style. There are fantasc digital
resources for birding out there—tools to help with idencaon,
connecons to the local birder community, and global-wide data on
birds—that are very much worth pursuing.
Digital Resources
Include:
• eBird
• Mobile Apps
• Social Media (Facebook, Flickr, Web Blogs)
• Podcasts
eBird
eBird is one of the largest
databases for records on
bird species abundance
and distribuon.
The site provides real-
me data on bird
populaons, and includes
region and species-
specic informaon.
Ornithologists and beginning birders alike can
submit observaons to eBird. By subming
data, you are not only sharing your sighngs
with the local birding community, but also
aiding sciensts with conservaon research.
Of course, one of the big benets of using eBird is
that helps you become a more informed birder.
You know where birds are, you know how to nd
great birding sites anywhere in the world, and
you can contribute to a growing collaborave
knowledge about bird status, distribuon, and
populaon shis that aids in the detecon
and protecon of threatened species.
Introducon
In a nutshell, if you see or hear a bird and can idenfy
it, you can report that observaon to eBird. Oen,
birders submit reports when they are bird watching for
an extended period of me, or spot an uncommon bird.
Observaons are submied in the form of a checklist.
There are a few requirements, or course. To submit an
observaon, an eBird user should know: the locaon, the
date and me, the bird species and the number counted,
the number of people who also observed, and an esmate
of the distance covered during the observaon.
For new eBird users wanng to learn the ropes, aending
walks with other birders is a great place to start. Oen
mes in group walks, there is a birder keeping an eBird list
who can show you the basics and, (if you have an account
created) share the checklist with you. When a birder shares
a checklist, all of the data they observed during the walk is
copied onto the other person’s eBird account.
How eBird Works
Website: The full database can
be accessed at ebird.org
Submissions can also be made
through the free eBird phone
app (examples seen on right).
Direct download links for
the smartphone app:
iTunes (for iphone/ipad):
hps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ebird-
by-cornell-lab-ornithology/id988799279
Google Play (for Android):
hps://play.google.com/store/apps/
details?id=edu.cornell.birds.ebird
How to
access eBird
E
Mobile
Apps
Mobile apps (abbreviated from
“applicaons”) are downloadable programs
designed for smart phones.
The types of apps vary greatly, ranging from
video games to diconaries. For birding,
this is a huge resource to take advantage
of. The vast range of birding apps out
there means you have the freedom to
choose whichever best ts your own style.
Just as some birders favor a certain eld
guide, the same is true for birding apps.
The following are a few of my favorites.
0
Merlin
Developed by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this app is specically designed for beginning and intermediate
birders. This is a great tool for learning the steps in bird idencaon, and techniques that will aid you
in understanding species dierences. Merlin walks you through the methods of idencaon (size, color,
behavior) using a photo ID tool, and suggests the most likely birds based on those key traits and the
current season and region you found it in.
The app recently expanded to include a Sound ID tool, which uses your phone’s mic to detect and, within
seconds, list the birds calling around you. Many of my birding friends use this app’s feature religiously.
Price: Free Available on: iPhone/iPad, Android
• Beginner-friendly
guide with Photo &
Sound ID tools
• Oers step-by-step
guidance
• Lists most likely
species in your season
and region
• Species images show
dierences seen with
age & plumage
At a Glance:
BirdsEye
Another great locaon-based app that pulls eBird sighngs.
This one has the added bonus of lisng historical data for a specic
hotspot, so you can see what species have been seen at a hotspot
before, and ancipate when birds are going to be at their peak.
I recommend geng the paid version (monthly subscripon), as
species are limited on the free version.
Price: Free (limited species)
Full Version – $2.99/month
• Species search tool lets you see
exactly when and where birds
are being found
• Lists birds reported from eBird
near your exact locaon
• Lets you specify within what
distance and date range
• Separately lists notable or rare
species for your area
• Shows nearby “hotspots”
• Charts seasonal abundance on
a species for a specic locaon
At a Glance:
Available on: iPhone/iPad, Android
Sibley Birds (2nd Edion)
For most birders, the Sibley Field Guide
is their go-to guide – both in book and
app form. With the app, you get all the
book’s info, without the weight. Clean
illustraons and streamlined ID info will
aid you in quickly picking apart species
in the eld. The species comparison tool
is incredibly useful for guring out those
tough look-a-like birds.
Price: $20
iBird Pro/Ulmate Guide to Birds
Another fantasc digital eld guide. While the illustraons may
not be quite as clean and accurate as Sibley’s, the app sll has
a lot of value. Sound recordings include a
wider range of songs and calls, and the app
goes much more in-depth on each species
and the genus (bird family) it belongs to.
Price: Free (Limited to 40 species)
$15 for Ulmate Version
• Illustrated Field Guide
• Detailed informaon on each
species (life history, behavior,
courtship/nesng, taxonomy)
• Expansive sound recordings
• Links to online photo galleries
and Wikipedia for specic birds
• Invest in Ulmate version for all
the full species archive
At a Glance:
Available on: All Devices
• Illustrated Field Guide
• Provides overview on species
• Includes sound recordings
• Compare Species tool for look-a-likes
• Shows seasonal range map of species
At a Glance:
Available on: All Devices
Warbler Guide
This app was developed by Princeton aer the huge success of their
Warbler Guide book. Birders love this book and know how helpful it
is in the eld. Birders also know that it is heavy to carry. The weight
of 120 warblers (3 pounds), to be exact. So, it is a nice alternave to
have a version that alternavely weighs only 12 warblers.
Price: $13 Available on: iPhone/iPad, Android
• Developed by Princeton University
• Everything you need to know about
warblers.
• Divides info by region and season.
• Shows images from all possible
angles, lists similar warblers, and
has vocalizaon database.
At a Glance:
iNaturalist
Similar to eBird, but expanding to all ora and fauna, iNaturalist is
part eld guide, part research network. You can use the app to snap
a picture of your observaons found in the natural world and share
them with an online community of nature lovers at iNaturalist.
org. The app’s photo ID tool is surprisingly accurate, and suggests
species based both on visual eld marks and nearby observaons.
Even if you aren’t 100% sure on ID, fellow iNaturalists will review
your observaons to help conrm or suggest alternate IDs, so it’s
a fantasc way to learn new species in a casual community seng.
Price: Free Available on: All Devices
• ID plants, animals, and other
organisms by taking photos.
• Suggests IDs based on visual
traits and local observaons.
•
Connect with naturalist peers
and research collaboraons.
•
Find species observed locally.
At a Glance:
Other Birding Apps
There are many apps out there, with new ones coming out every day.
Here are a few other popular birding apps to try:
a
Raptor ID
A eld guide focused on raptors.
Compares similar species and has
fantasc video ID guides.
Audubon
Another great digital eld guide,
similar to the Sibley Guide.
Includes recordings and ID tools.
Larkwire
An ear training app designed
to teach you bird vocalizaons
through sound quizzes.
Collins Bird Guide
A U.K.-based digital eld guide.
While not all species overlap, this
is one of the most in-depth digital
eld guides I’ve come across.
Social Media
d
The way individuals use social media depends a
lot on personality. The same is true for birders.
Some use it to post pictures of birds they have
taken, others use it to share ndings with the
community, or seek assistance with idencaon.
A good starng point is one Facebook. Indiana
has many birding groups that people can join to
share the latest news for their area. The easiest
way to nd them is to do a search on Facebook.
Facebook Groups in Indiana:
Birding in Indiana
www.facebook.com/groups/birdinginindiana
Indiana Audubon
hps://www.facebook.com/groups/indianaaudubon
Elkhart County Birding
www.facebook.com/groups/925967517488245
LaGrange County Birding
www.facebook.com/groups/601709299896376
Birding in Indiana: Advanced Birding
www.facebook.com/groups/rareindianabirds
Indiana Rare Bird Alert
www.facebook.com/groups/INDIANARAREBIRDALERT
Podcasts are audio programs specialized by interest and published by radio
or independent broadcasters for the public to download on their mobile de-
vices or computer. Think of podcasts like bite-sized segments from the radio.
Tradional radio programs, like as Prairie Home Companion and This Ameri
-
can Life are now available to download as podcasts.
For birders wanng to expand their knowledge, this is a fantasc and oen
overlooked resource. There’s tons of excellent podcasts out there that
provide news about the birding world. Topics can range from migraon
and bird research to lightweight stories from naturalists and the birds they
encounter. Just like a good book, there’s something out there for everybody.
Have a listen!
Podcasts
🎧
Bird Notes
3-minute episodes presented by Dwight Davis based in Virginia on featured species
and seasonal themes. Dwight oen discusses the origin of bird names, the natural
and cultural history with birds, and lesser-known facts about individual species.
Here are a couple dbits I picked up form this podcast:
- John James Audubon saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler only once in his life.
- The word “plover” means “rain bird”—and technically should be pronounced like
the word “lover”, rather than “over” (which is how most birders say it).
- The scienc name for Eastern Bluebird roughly translates to “Bird, Bird”.
Website: hps://mediaplayer.whro.org/program/birdnotes
Apple: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bird-notes/id291388058
BirdNote Daily
Not to be confused with “Bird Notes”, BirdNote is a daily 2-minute podcast that
combines rich sounds with engaging stories to illustrate the amazing lives of birds.
The show is hosted by rotang speakers, and the program has a nice mix of themes.
One episode might explore the maturing voices of Song Sparrows, while another
could be about Tweety Bird. The podcast is highly popular with birders and publishes
a new episode daily.
Website: hp://birdnote.org
Apple: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/birdnote/id79155128
SUGGESTED PODCASTS:
American Birding Podcast
One of the most popular birding podcasts out there, and for good reason. Hosted
by the charismac Nate Swick of the American Birding Associaon. Each show
kicks o with a segment on rare birds, which recaps recent raries found naonally,
before moving on to interviews with birders, researchers, along with coverage on
the latest conservaon news and bird-centered stories.
Website: hps://www.aba.org/podcast/
iTunes: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/american-birding-podcast/id1186824033
INSTRUCTIONS: To download a podcast,
you will need access to a mobile phone or
computer.
➧
For Apple users (iPhone, iPod, iPad
and Mac) podcasts can be downloaded
through iTunes.
➧
For Windows users, podcasts can
be listened to on individual podcast
websites, or via podcast programs (varies
by Windows model and version). Android
users can access podcasts directly through
Google Play.
Weekly Bird Report (Produced by WCAI)
A weekly podcast produced by WCAI in a reporter-style format by Mark Faherty.
While the podcast isn’t targeted for our region (being based in Cape May), I’ve found
that the reports on species migraon and seasonal changes oen overlap with birding
reports in here in Indiana. This podcast is an excellent way to get a sense of what
seasonal birds to expect in the coming weeks.
Website: hp://capeandislands.org/topic/weekly-bird-report
iTunes: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/weekly-bird-report/id980872574
Laura Erickson for the Birds
The longest-running radio program on birds in the United States. In this slice-of-life style
podcast, Laura Erickson shares her personal experiences as a birder and her thoughts
on bird conservaon for the past, present, and future.
Website: hp://www.lauraerickson.com/radio
iTunes: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/laura-ericksons-for-the-birds/id655880335
Happy Birding!
Y
As a birder who got their start by through digital
birding tools, I advise you not be afraid to try things
out, be curious, and nd something that works
for you. There’s no wrong way to do it. These are
fantasc resources that can help you connect you
to the birding community, and expand your own
knowledge on the life of birds.
Conclusion:
Peterson Field Guides
A video series with nice coverage on bird families, species proles, and birding
techniques. Since the podcasts are in video format, I recommend watching on your
computer over your mobile device.
Website: hps://www.hmhbooks.com/peterson
Youtube: hps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIJwz8SrFQHj3k3ib8g
Apple: hps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hmh-podcasts/id308049944
Glossary of Technology Terms
Apps: Mobile apps (abbreviated from “applicaons”) are downloadable programs
designed for mobile devices.
Cizen Science: The collecon and analysis of data relang to the natural world
by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborave project with
professional sciensts. The Christmas Bird Count is a good example of Cizen Science
research.
Digital: Involving or relang to the use of computer technology.
Digital Media: Images, videos, or audio shared and distributed online.
eBird: One of the largest databases for records on bird species abundance and
distribuon.
Hotspots: Areas reported with a high amount of bird acvity.
Mobile Devices: Smartphones or handheld tablets (ex. iPad).
Podcasts: Audio programs specialized by interest and published by radio or
independent broadcasters for the public to download on their mobile devices or
computer.
Smart Phones: Mobile devices that have touch screens and are compable with apps.
Social Media: Online websites or networks designed for social interacon, such as
sharing media, or connecng with communies sharing a common interest. Examples
include: Facebook, Twier, Instagram, Flickr, and web blogs.
Upload: For the most part, the act of publishing one’s own media online (such as
posng a photo on Facebook, or sharing a le with another online user). On rare
occasions, if you report a rare bird on eBird, you may be asked to upload media (such
as a photo or video) for conrmaon.
Have quesons? Need more guidance on digital birding resources?
Don’t be afraid to ask! Contact me (Annie Aguirre) by phone at
574-535-6625, or email aaguirre@elkhartcounty.com
Need more guidance?
Q