I was reading one of my tech blogs (aka “geek” blogs) and came across something very interesting from the folks over at TechCrunch. They are currently holding their annual conference called TechCrunch50 and are updating their blog at a very fast pace. As I began sifting thru the various posts I came across something that I thought worthy of sharing. I haven’t dug to deep into this yet, but at first glance it looks like a new (still in beta) social networking site for bird watchers - called Birdpost. Forgive me if this is old news for some of you, but it’s the first that I have seen or heard of it.
TechCrunch50 gave it a very favorable review. Here’s just a bit of what they had to say:
“…Like Wikipedia, Birdpost intends to unleash knowledge traditionally locked up in the heads of a small group of experts. While in the case of bird watching the group is highly focused, the founders insist that 45 million Americans would actually be interested in their knowledge.
Birdpost provides knowledge about birds and, in particular, where they’ve been spotted, in three main ways. First, an interactive map based on Google Maps shows pins where birds have been spotted by the site’s members. When you click on a pin, it shows a picture of the bird and other information. Secondly, members can compile lists of the birds they wish to spot, and when someone spots any one of those birds, a notification will get sent out. And finally, members can search for birds by name, characteristics, and regions.”
Read the complete review here.
Birdpost link: http://www.birdpost.com/
2 comments:
Birdpost is a blatant rip-off of the NONPROFIT eBird project that has been around for years.
Much of the Birdpost application seems to be a repackaging of some of eBird's new features like Google Mapping, Notable Birds Gadget, etc.
They obviously used existing eBird features as the kernel, added a few unimpressive social networking 'bells and whistles' (which birders won't care about) and voila.
And unlike eBird, Birdpost is of zero value to bird researchers and conservationists, since Birdpost data is very poorly screened for misidentifications, spurious reports and "nut job" birders compared to eBird and other real citizen-science projects.
I urge birders to use eBird instead - after all, it not only lets you record, track, map, search, alerts, etc. - but it also helps conserve the birds we care about.
Birdpost is a for-profit ripoff of an existing nonprofit product.
For Shame!
Regarding later plans for other non-avian wildlife: those will having harmful effects when used on, say reptiles (since both legal and illegal commercial turtle and snake collectors can use the Internet too).
Same comment, same posting all over the internet, trashing Birdpost, pumping up eBird, by an anonymous user. Unbelievable! I would think the "non-profit" eBird would be thrilled with another website trying to promote birding!
Best,
Jason Peery
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