Bird lists and Google Maps

A huge number of birdwatchers create different lists of the birds was ever recorded in their lifetime. There are world (lifer) lists, regional or country lists, year lists or bird species gruop (e.g. birds of prey, birds-of-paradise etc.) list as well. Most of the list is created in Excel files with thickmarks while others handle it online. With Google Earth or Google Maps there is a new way to visualize our records. For those who would love to play (and have time for it!) with their records in the long grey winter days there are some way to add placemarks to maps utilizing Google solutions. It is especially useful if someone regularly shares trip sigtings with others. In Google Earth every placemark can be saved individually and can be sent by e-mail to the 'client' with the detail of bird recorded. In Google Maps you can generate a link of the certain map and you can also share it by sending via e-mail. If you keep your list in EXCEL file the link can be easily added to the species. Creating trip reports with routing is very easy including placemarks of sightings, a remarkable scenic landscape, notes, warnings, hotels, petrol stations etc. I also use them for planning any kind of trip where I can virtually travel along the routes before I actually would depart from home. Here are some expamples how I managed my records.

Placemark bubbles can contain any details of the record (date of birds seen, name of the place, number of birds seen or a story behind, etc.).

Of course any magnification is possible. You can zoom in and out till the map allows it.

Alternatively you can add images and videos as well. (note: Google Maps recommends to use Picasaweb to add images to a placemark however I was not succeed to make the image visible. I used one of the other image uploader possibility instead of Picasaweb which just works fine.)

This is a slice of my life list kept in EXCEL sheet. The last column is dedicated for the clickable links of the Google Maps which direct me to the certain map if I click on them. If you want to learn more of the EXCEL sheet I use, don't hesitate to post a message here.

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