About
BirdTrack is a citizen science project and digital platform created through a partnership between the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), RSPB, BirdWatch Ireland, the Scottish Ornithologists' Club, and the Welsh Ornithological Society. It enables birdwatching enthusiasts to record, store, and manage their personal bird sightings through a web portal or a dedicated mobile app, while simultaneously contributing valuable data to species conservation research across Britain, Ireland, and beyond. The platform offers a 'smart' species list that suggests birds most likely to be seen in a given location, making data entry fast and accurate in the field. Users can sync their places and historical records, view maps of recent sightings, track target species they haven't observed yet, and maintain detailed life and year lists at global, regional, or local levels. The 'Explore my records' feature lets users visualize their data through interactive maps, tables, and graphs. BirdTrack is aimed at both casual birdwatchers and serious ornithologists who want a convenient, free tool to archive their observations. There is no minimum time commitment — contributors can participate as much or as little as they wish. The collected data feeds directly into BTO science, informing conservation policy and tracking migratory movements and population trends. With growing support for auto-ID tools using audio and image inputs, BirdTrack is evolving alongside modern technology to make bird recording more accessible than ever.
Key Features
- Mobile App with Smart Species Lists: Log bird sightings anywhere in the world using the BirdTrack app, which suggests species most likely to be seen in your location for quick, accurate data entry.
- Interactive Maps & Sighting Explorer: View maps of recent sightings reported by the community, and explore your own birding locations and records visually on an interactive map.
- Life & Year Lists: Maintain personal life and year lists at global, regional, or local levels, and track target species you have yet to observe.
- Data Visualization & Export: Use the 'Explore my records' feature to visualize your sighting data as tables and graphs, and extract records for personal analysis.
- Citizen Science Data Contribution: All records are automatically contributed to BTO scientific research on bird migration, movements, and conservation at national and international scales.
Use Cases
- Birdwatchers maintaining a personal life list of species observed across different regions and years.
- Citizen scientists contributing sighting data to support BTO research on bird migration and population monitoring.
- Ornithology students and educators using the platform to learn about bird distributions and practice field recording.
- Local birdwatching groups coordinating records and exploring community sighting maps for their region.
- Conservationists tracking scarce or migratory species movements across Britain and Ireland over multiple seasons.
Pros
- Completely Free to Use: BirdTrack is free with no subscription or premium tier, making it accessible to all birdwatchers regardless of budget.
- Real Scientific Impact: User-submitted records feed directly into conservation science and policy decisions, giving hobbyists a meaningful way to contribute to wildlife research.
- No Minimum Commitment: There is no required time or data submission minimum — users can contribute at their own pace, from a single record to thousands of observations.
- Cross-Platform Access: Available on both web and mobile (iOS and Android), enabling seamless recording in the field and review at home.
Cons
- Requires Bird Identification Skills: Users must be confident in identifying the birds they record, which may be a barrier for complete beginners without additional training.
- Primarily Focused on Britain and Ireland: While the app supports global logging, the research, maps, and community data are most developed for the UK and Ireland, limiting utility for users elsewhere.
- Limited Advanced Data Analysis Tools: The built-in graphs and tables are useful but basic compared to dedicated data analytics platforms; power users may need to export data for deeper analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BirdTrack free to use?
Yes, BirdTrack is completely free. There are no subscription fees or premium tiers — you simply create an account and start recording.
What types of bird records can I submit?
You can record any bird species you observe, anywhere in the world. The platform uses a smart species list to suggest birds most likely in your specific area, but you can enter any species you identify.
How does my data support conservation?
All records submitted through BirdTrack are used by the BTO and partner organisations to study migration patterns, population trends, and distributions, which in turn inform conservation strategies at local, national, and international levels.
Is there a mobile app available?
Yes, the BirdTrack app is available for iOS and Android devices. It supports field recording, syncing with your online account, viewing recent sightings on a map, and tracking your life and year lists.
Do I need prior experience to participate?
You should be confident in identifying the birds you record to ensure data quality. However, BirdTrack and BTO offer training videos and courses to help you develop your bird identification skills before or while participating.
