In the Horne Wetlands Park, there are many species of birds that visit the area throughout the year. Some are seasonal and come during certain times of the year while others are indigenous to the region. These birds can range from common songbirds to raptor species such as the red-tailed hawk.

The OrnitO app is a field guide that catalogs birds from over 180 countries. The app is unique because it organizes its data and showcases the avian species with photos, names, and other general information. The app also has a database with 200 languages so that the information can be translated to your native tongue for easier understanding.

<aside> 📱 "Many of the modern environmental projects are powered by new mobile and web technologies, which help to enable the general public the ability to take part in the research and contribute to scientific knowledge around the globe." (Luna, 2018)

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OrnitO is very detailed with data on thousands of bird species. Before the app allows you to search for the birds, it requires you to narrow down your search parameter from continent to country and then to the specific region. It also shows how many species have been documented within that area.

One of the interesting features from the app is that is shows the origin of the species whether they are native (indigenous), introduced or invasive to the region. This feature is important because it could be used for conservation programs or educational purposes when determining the proper strategies needed to promote conservation efforts.

"Badges" placed on the specific species to show the origin and locations of the birds in the region.

"Badges" placed on the specific species to show the origin and locations of the birds in the region.

Birds found within the South Atlantic region of the United States.

Birds found within the South Atlantic region of the United States.

Once you have found the bird species that you are trying to document or find within the study area, the app allows for you to make a note of your sighting by clicking the binoculars. The binoculars records your sighting and the day on which you made your observation along with how many birds you saw at the time.

Overall, the app has very unique features that would prove to be useful for the field of conservation or anything related to the avian species. I enjoyed spending time going through the app and making my own sets of observation as I spent time outdoors or whenever I saw a bird that I recognized. It also allowed for me to learn about birds that are commonly located around the park but may be less known due to scarce activity. After reviewing the app, I would give it a high rating due to the fact that it is free to access and does not limit your experience with the typical advertisements you see on other apps.

Sources

Luna S. et al. (2018) Developing mobile applications for environmental and biodiversity citizen science: considerations and recommendations. In: Joly A., Vrochidis S., Karatzas K., Karppinen A., Bonnet P. (eds) Multimedia Tools and Applications for Environmental & Biodiversity Informatics. Multimedia Systems and Applications. Springer, Cham. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76445-0_2