Bird Watching Website - Advise needed

[ravenclare]

Hi all, I am currently carrying out research for my 3rd year major project of my Multimedia degree, and my initial idea for this project is to create a website that revolves around Bird watching to aid Bird watchers to locate where rare birds or even common birds can be located around the UK.

I'd like to make this website as useful as possible for bird watchers and one aspect that will be incorporated into the website is an interactive map where you, the users, can add the location of the birds, rare or common, around the UK. Other interactive elements that will be included will be a forum, perhaps a shop for books and equipment and twitter feeds.

However, as bird watchers, I would like to know if there is anything else that you would like to see from a bird watching site and also, would a bird watching site with the latest information about birds be of any interest to you?

Thank you all and all replies are very much appreciated

[Adam Cheeseman]

Hi Ravenclare.

Have to say such websites already exist, namely Rare Bird Alert, Birdguides and BirdForum. You may want to look at these excellent websites to see what they offer plus all the restrictions regarding the reporting of rare (breeding) birds.

Cheers,

Adam

[ravenclare]

Hi,

Thank you very much for the quick response. When looking at Google, I found very little sites available but I'm thankful for the names of the sites you have provided and I will look into them. I was also unaware of the restrictions of the reporting of rare breeding birds and I am thankful that you have brought this to my attention.

Thanks for your response as this has allowed me to think and develop my ideas a little more.

Clare

[Finndog]

Hi Ravenclare,

Just a thought but the websites listed by Adam do cover all species but judging by your name how about one just on Corvid's? Maybe the natural history/mythology/ornithology of the resident species, I don't think there is a website that particularly focus on specific groups (although I am sure that there might be a few for raptors as they are glamorous enough!).

Just a thought though.

Finndog

[Deb London]

I'd love a website that gave the latest sightings of a broad range of wildlife. It would be fully searchable and include a map. You could use filters to get to the information that you desire.

For example, I want to see some butterflies that I haven't seen before. I want to restrict my traveling time, so am only interested in a 50 mile radius from home. When I get to a likely spot (found using the map, which was searched so as to only include sightings within the last seven days), the weather has changed, so I decide to see what bird species I can find. I don't know the area that well, so use the search again, but this time for birds within the last two days. I find some species of interest, and just before I leave, check all categories as I have some spare time. I discover that I'm almost standing on a plant that I've wanted to see for ages.

How cool would this be? How much different than my usual day out? If the map could be linked to the GPS of my mobile phone, that would just about be my perfect app.

I daydream about using something like this, LOL. At the moment I search (laboriously) through various blogs and sighting pages, never quite having the time to check each one and always managing to miss something, or end up in the wrong place.

[Gill Catton]

Yes i agree, birds as a group are pretty much covered, but things like bats are not covered like this very much and there is a large network of local bat groups that might contribute.
Also yes things like butterflies and dragonflies have excellent websites covering identification and general ecology but not ' I saw this here on this date' type features.

[solus]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

Hi Ravenclare.

Have to say such websites already exist, namely Rare Bird Alert, Birdguides and BirdForum. You may want to look at these excellent websites to see what they offer plus all the restrictions regarding the reporting of rare (breeding) birds.

Cheers,

Adam

In addition there are many local websites covering regional/county birding, rare and unusual sightings and most will also cover such things as butterflies, moths and dragonflies to a lesser extent. Also County Wildlife Trusts which have a wider remit.