General – BirdRing

Backup observation data

You can export observations from the BirdRing app. The app creates a backup file with a name like BirdRing_Backup_date.json. You can share this file (e.g. through email), save it on your device or upload it to your favorite online service like Google Drive, iCloud.

Of course you can also import the backup file. You can do that on the same device, but also on another device. When you select import, the app will ask you to select the backup file. So make sure the backup file is accessible from your device.

During import, existing observations won’t be deleted or overwritten. Exception: when an observation already exists on your device, but the observation from the backup file is changed more recently than the observation on your device, only then the observarion on the device will be overwritten by the observation from the backup.

Creating a backup file makes it easier to replace your phone with a new one, even when you switch from Android to iPhone or the other way around. It also allows you to use BirdRing on different devices, and yet have a complete set of observations on each device.

Not all data is included in the backup file. Settings and account data are excluded. The backup only contains data of all individual observations.

What is the SpotFinder

Do you recognize this: you are in an unknown place and an hour or two to spend. Of course you would like to read rings. But where to find them?

The BirdRing SpotFinder helps you discover good spots to read rings. The SpotFinder shows locations on a map where different species have been read before.

When you move the map or zoom out, use the refresh button in the right top corner to show additional observations.

You can also filter observations for a specific month or species, see the red button on the picture below. This limits the observations shown on the map to your selection:

When you click on a spot, you have the option to directly start Google Maps (button right below corner) to navigate to the spot:

You can also click on one of the clustered spots, to see which species and numbers have been read on that spot:

You can find the SpotFinder in the menu (three dots) in the right top corner of the home screen of BirdRing.

Observations in vulnerable areas (e.g. breeding colonies) or species won’t be shown. Contact me if you want me to add a vulnerable area or species.

The SpotFinder uses observation data that have been collected with the BirdRing app: just species, date/time and location will be collected by the SpotFinder and only if the user explicitly gives permission to collect the data. The SpotFinder does not collect any ring data (that is only for the researcher) or personal data. Anyone that does not want the SpotFinder to collect his data, can keep using BirdRing as usual, without using SpotFinder.

What can I do with BirdRing?

With BirdRing you can easily capture your observations. BirdRing determines the right ring code and stores location, date, time and many other data. BirdRing prevents common mistakes, like unused letters or colours. You can upload the observation data to connected websites and you can email observations to yourself in csv (Excel) format. BirdRing directly shows the ‘life history’ of birds that have been uploaded to connected websistes.

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What is the purpose of BirdRing?

The primary objective of BirdRing is to simplify administrative actions around collecting and submitting observations of birds with colour or metal rings. BirdRing saves time, that you can spend to go out birdwatching more often or other things you like.

By making things easier, BirdRing hopes more observers join in collecting and submitting observations. BirdRing also prevents mistakes, by several checks in the app and because you don’t have to copy data from your notebook into your computer.

BirdRing also saves time for researchers by providing a standard format for receiving collected data by many observers that can be processed automatically. (Contact me if you need any help with that.)

And last but not least: it’s just fun, like viewing the life history of birds after uploading the observation data to a connected website.

Screenshots with explanation

The most important functions of the app are briefly explained in this PDF with screenshots.

What is BirdRing-RUG?

BirdRing-RUG is the extended version of BirdRing and is intended for bird observers that read colour rings and metal rings for scientific projects of the University of Groningen (RUG). BirdRing-RUG allows you to enter species-specific data fields that require more background knowledge (so far only for Black-tailed Godwit). The CSV file can be automatically imported into the RUG black-tailed godwit database.

BirdRing-RUG can be installed next to BirdRing. Both apps do not influence each other. You can install BirdRing-RUG here:

If you are also interested in a specific variant (tailored for your organisation) of BirdRing, please contact me.

Privacy policy

BirdRing does not collect any personal information. Period.

Some notes that concern both the Android and the iOS version of the app:

BirdRing uses the gps location of your device only to show you the map of that location and your position on the map.
BirdRing uses your email address only to let you send an email with your observation data to yourself from the app.
BirdRing has an option to send the bird observation data to various websites. Please check the privacy policy of those websites when you create an account for that website. BirdRing only sends bird observation data to websites where you have created an account for that purpose.

An additional note that only applies to the Android version of the app:

BirdRing for Android has an option to send anonymous observation data to the BirdRing SpotFinder database. These data do not contain any personal data, just the species, date/time and location of the bird you have observed.

Can I use BirdRing without internet connection?

Yes you can, for most things BirdRing works just fine without an internet connection. So you can use BirdRing on a device without a SIM card. However selecting a location on a map is kind of ‘blind’, as you don’t actually see the map, just your own position.

Of course you can send your observations once you have a Wi-Fi connection to the internet.

Tip: if you have another device (like an iPhone) that has mobile internet, usually you can setup a Wi-Fi hotspot that enables you to access the internet from your Android device that does not have a mobile internet connection itself.

I have an idea how you can improve BirdRing even further

I appreciate if you want to share your idea with me. If I think your idea is useful for more users, I shall put it on the idea list and may implement it in a future version of BirdRing. Many of the current features of BirdRing are the result of user feedback.

You can contact me through the email address that you can find at the BirdRing app in de Google Play Store, Twitter and Facebook.