iPhone 5S and later, with iOS 8 or later.
iPads ("SIM enabled") with iOS 8 or later (no SIM card required)
Android-based devices with Android 4.0.4 or later

Change the filter in the search bar to "iPhone only".

You need to register with BirdLasser to create your personal profile – ensuring your data stays confidential. You need to verify (via the email sent to you after registration), should you wish to share your data with conservation entities or take part in birding events.

You only need to be connected when you log in to BirdLasser. BirdLasser occasionally synchronises its data with the server, but will only do it when you are connected – you can still use the app offline. Note: you can use BirdLasser without a SIM card and in Airplane mode. Your data will be backed up to the cloud once you open the app whilst connected to wifi.

BirdLasser uses the GPS module of your device, which will result in higher than average battery use. To conserve power, make sure the setting "GPS always-on" is switched off.

All data logged in BirdLasser stays in the app, but does get backed up to our cloud servers when your phone is connected to the internet. Your data is not shared with anyone unless you give us permission to do so. See the sections below under CAUSES and PLAY for examples of where and how your data can be shared.

No, an observer number is only required if you want to use BirdLasser to atlas. See the section ATLAS / BIRDMAP for more info.

In the app, go to Trips – create a new Trip Card (you can name it anything that makes sense to you). Open the Trip Card – note the big Log button – tap it to load the list of species for your selected region. Instead of scrolling to correct species, type in the Search bar – e.g. “Pig” to minimize the list to all pigeons. Tap on species in the list you want to log.

Alternate logging methods on Android chevron_right

• Open Settings:
  • On Android, tap the Menu icon on the top left of the trip card screen and tap Settings
  • On iOS, Tap Settings
• Enable improved GPS settings:
  • On Android, tap General and check "GPS always on" and "Enable location providers"
  • On iOS, switch on "Improved GPS"

Resolving GPS issues on Android chevron_right

For iPhone/iPad:

• With the trip card open, scroll to the species you logged just before the one you want to log, i.e. you need to know what you saw before this new one you want to add.
• Slide from right to left over this record in the list, as if you want to move the record to the left.
• Two buttons will be revealed behind the record, tap on Duplicate.
• You will now notice this duplicated record in the list, just above the original one.
• Tap on the second/duplicate one – the “Observation properties” screen will open where you can change all the properties.
• Start off by changing the species to the correct one: tap on the name and search, like when you log a new species.
• The location (GPS coordinates) will be the same as the duplicated species – if it is incorrect, tap on Location. Scroll/zoom to the actual location – press down with your finger where you saw it – a pop-up will appear – tap on the “Tap to move pin here” to change the location. Tap Done to save and return to the properties screen.
• You can also change the date and time if required.

For Android devices:

• With the trip card open, scroll to the species you logged just before the one you want to log, i.e. you need to know what you saw before this new one you want to add.
• Tap on the three vertical dots to the right of this species’ name.
• Select Duplicate.
• You will now notice this duplicated record in the list, just above the original one.
• Tap on the second/duplicate one – the “Observation properties” screen will open where you can change all the properties.
• Start off by changing the species to the correct one: tap on the name and search, like when you log a new species.
• The location (GPS coordinates) will be the same as the duplicated species – if it is incorrect, press down with your finger where you saw it (in the map) – a pop-up will appear – tap on the “Tap to move pin here” to change the location.
• You can also change the date and time if required.

For iPhone/iPad:

• You can either create a trip card for all the records you want to add e.g. "Historical Data", or a trip card per grouping of records, e.g. "West Coast Jan 1995".
• Open the trip card, log the oldest record. Do this in the same way you would log any other bird. This record will obviously have the incorrect date, time and co-ordinates… that’s fine for now.
• Click on this record in the list – the “Observation properties” screen will open where you can change all the properties.
• Start off by changing the date and time to the actual date and time this bird was observed.
• Next, change the location
  • Tap on Location
  • The map opens, showing the record’s location as a pin on the map
  • Zoom in/out and scroll to where you originally observed this bird
  • Place you finger on the map at the exact location – a purple pin will drop at that position with a call-out “Tap to move pin here” – tap on this call-out
  • The pin will turn red and the co-ordinates will change
  • Tap on Done to save your changes
• Tap on < Trip to go back to your trip card.
• Add the next record by duplicating the first record – see the steps in the section in this FAQ explaining how to add a species to my trip card after the fact.

For Android devices:

• You can either create a trip card for all the records you want to add e.g. "Historical Data", or a trip card per grouping of records, e.g. "West Coast Jan 1995".
• Open the trip card, log the oldest record. Do this in the same way you would log any other bird. This record will obviously have the incorrect date, time and co-ordinates… that’s fine for now.
• Click on this record in the list – the “Observation properties” screen will open where you can change all the properties.
• Start off by changing the date and time to the actual date and time this bird was observed.
• Next, change the location:
  • On the visible map, place you finger on the map at the exact location – a green pin will drop at that position with a call-out “Move observation” – tap on this call-out
  • The pin will turn red and the co-ordinates will change
• Tap on the pass mark to save your changes.
• Add the next record by duplicating the first record – see the steps in the section in this FAQ explaining how to add a species to my trip card after the fact.

To atlas is to take part in the Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2, also known as the BirdMAP project – you’ll can find more information here: http://sabap2.adu.org.za.

Atlassing on BirdLasser chevron_right

If the icon is not displayed, then atlassing is most probably switched off.

For iPhone/iPad:

• Open the applicable trip card
• From the menu (three horizontal dots, top-right), select Edit trip card
• Toggle the Atlassing on switch
• Tap Done to save and close
• The BirdMAP icon will now be available

For Android devices:

• Open the applicable trip card
• Tap the menu icon on the top right
• Tap "Turn atlassing/mapping on"
• You will now be able to submit your fieldsheet cards to BirdMAP / SABAP2

If the grids are not displayed in Map View, then atlassing is most probably switched off.

For iPhone/iPad:

• Open the applicable trip card
• From the menu (three horizontal dots, top-right), select Edit trip card
• Toggle the Atlassing on switch
• Tap Done to save and close
• The BirdMAP icon will now be available

For Android devices:

• Open the applicable trip card
• Tap the menu icon on the top right
• Tap "Turn atlassing/mapping on"
• You will now be able to submit your fieldsheet cards to BirdMAP / SABAP2

Typical mistakes are:

• Sending the card as the incorrect protocol, i.e. ad-hoc instead of full protocol
• Forgetting a species – you want to add it now
• Incorrect species logged (you probably got an ORF or NRF) – you want to delete/change it now

The steps for all three these scenarios are basically the same:

1. Delete the submitted card from the SABAP2/BirdMAP website
2. Make the amendment to the trip card in the app
3. Resubmit the card

For step 1 – contact BirdMAP’s support for instructions on how to delete a card from the website.
For step 2 – delete or change the incorrect species in the trip card.
For step 3 – to resubmit the card, follow the same process as you always do to submit a card – just remember to set the protocol accordingly if this was the problem previously.

The app works out how long you have been atlassing, and subsequently allocates the species in each hour as per the calculation. Multiple factors are considered when calculating the time spent atlassing, so naturally errors can occur under extreme conditions. To assist the app in this calculation, make sure you log as often as possible when out atlassing, even if you log a duplicate (these will not be submitted to BirdMAP). If however you pick up an issue, e.g. all the species is in the first hour, but you did spend two hours atlassing, you will need to move some species into the second hour. To do this, you don’t actually move the species, but rather the hour bar – tap and hold on the bar and move it to the desired location between the appropriate species – lift your finger. Repeat where necessary.

Yes, as long as you have an account with both parties.

There are just few basic things you need to know that differs from the ‘standard’ way of using BirdLasser. First off, create a trip card that matches to a hotspot, 2) for each record you log, add the count as well (enabled Quick Capture under Settings) and 3) each trip card will need to be exported from the app in CSV format, then uploaded to eBird.

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