Want to participate in the Big Garden Birdwatch but unsure about identifying the birds visiting your garden? The Birda app (birda.org) is a fantastic tool that simplifies bird identification and helps you seamlessly contribute to this important citizen science project. This blog post will guide you through how to use Birda for the Big Garden Birdwatch.
Identifying your Big Garden Birdwatch Birds with Birda's Built-in Tools
Birda offers a comprehensive suite of tools to help you identify birds right as you spot them. The app boasts a built-in species guide, packed with high-quality reference images, detailed descriptions of bird appearances, behaviours, and habitats, and even includes bird sounds for over 1000 species.
What’s really useful is that Birda’s species lists are location-aware. This means the species you see listed within the app are those found in your area, ordered from most common to least common. This feature significantly narrows down the possibilities and makes it much easier to pinpoint the bird you’re looking at. Even if you only get a glimpse, you can find similar birds in the guide and compare their characteristics.
Advanced Identification Features: AI and Community Support
Still struggling to identify a bird? Birda offers both Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence (HI) assistance. You can snap a photo, even a blurry one, and use Birda’s AI photo identification tool. Alternatively, you can share your photo with the Birda community for help from experienced birders. And soon, Birda will be launching AI sound identification, making it even easier to identify those elusive birds hiding in the trees!
Recording Your Sightings for the Big Garden Birdwatch
The Birda app makes participating in the Big Garden Birdwatch incredibly simple. As you observe birds in your garden, you can log your sightings directly within the app. Birda provides a handy summary of your birdwatching session, which you can then use to easily submit your sightings to the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch website. No more pen and paper or separate spreadsheets—Birda streamlines the entire process! Learn more about when the BGBW happens and how to count birds in the big garden birdwatch.
Beyond the Big Garden Birdwatch: More Birda Features
Beyond the Big Garden Birdwatch, Birda offers a wealth of features for birdwatchers of all levels. You can:
- Join challenges and connect with other birders: Participate in fun birding challenges, share your sightings, and connect with a global community of bird enthusiasts.
- Discover new birding locations: Explore Birda’s interactive map with over a billion bird sightings to find new hotspots near you.
- Set birding goals and track your progress: Challenge yourself to spot new species and track your birding achievements.
- Contribute to citizen science: Your bird sightings on Birda are shared with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), contributing valuable data for scientific research and conservation efforts.
The Birda app transforms birdwatching into an interactive and rewarding experience. Its comprehensive tools and features, particularly its streamlined recording process, make it the ideal companion for the Big Garden Birdwatch (find out how the BGBW started and why it is in January). Download Birda today, and get ready to discover the amazing birdlife in your garden! Please note that this information is current as of December 7, 2024, and details about the Birda app and the Big Garden Birdwatch may change.
Read about the Garden Birdwatch and how the data collected gets used.
