How to Add a Birdingplace?

 

Adding a birdingplace is easy. Login and click on 'Add a birdingplace'. The website will lead you through 8 easy steps. On this page we explain all the steps in detail, for if you have any questions left. This tutorial is also available in German, French and Spanish. If you want to help translate the turorial in other languages, please contact us.

View the tutorial in German

View the tutorial in French

View the tutorial in Spanish

What is a Birdingplace?

A birdingplace is an interesting, rich or beautiful bird area. A place where you can enjoy a good morning (or afternoon) of birding. Preferably not bigger than that. So not entire areas as the Yorkshire Dales, the Cota Doñana, or a National Park. Such areas consist of dozens of birdingplaces. Please keep it small. As a rule of thumb, a birdingplace is an area where you can have a fine morning of birding. Or smaller, OK? 👍

You don't have to be an expert of every bird or bush in a birdingplace to enter it on the website. The most important thing is that you can show your fellow birders how to find their way and where the nice (bird)hotspots in the area are to be found.

How do you add a Birdingplace on the website?

  • First create a user-account and then click on ‘Find a Birdingplace’ to check on the map if the birdingplace you want to enter may have already been described by a fellow birdwatcher. If an area is still free, you are ready to go!
  • Provide as many useful details as possible. Always keep in mind which information would make you happy if you were visiting the area yourself for the first time.

 

In 8 steps you are ready

 

Step 1: General info 

Fill in Title, country and and rate your birdingplace: A (Not to be missed), B (Worth a detour), or C (Nice if you are in the area).

Click on ‘Next’

Step 2: Choose location

Place your Birdingplace on the map of Europe. (It’s also possible and allowed to enter areas outside Europe. However the main focus of Birdingplaces.eu is Europe.)  

Click on ‘Next'

Step 3: Describe the area

Short intro: A short description of the area (max. 160 characters, for example: Protected wetland or 300 hectares with really good birding and a whole series or birding hides, ponds and look-outs.)

Why go birding here? Why is this such a nice place to go birding? Which kind of birds can you see? What are the highlights? Please focus on details that will help your fellow birders enjoy the area the most. Note: If you are able to write in English we kindly ask you to write the text in English. This is the preferred language on Birdingplaces.eu, because most birders in Europe can read and write it. It helps all users to understand the texts of your fellow birdwatchers from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Russia, Sweden, Turkey or whatever which country. If you are unable to write the text in English, simply do it in your own language. Then a translation button will be added later with which users can automatically translate your text.

To make writing in English easier, bird names can be entered in your own language (they will be automatically translated). You do this by clicking on the small bird icon above the entry field. You can fill in the bird of choice and confirm with OK. The bird then appears in your own language and shaded in yellow in the box. In this way the Finn can read the birdnames in Finnish, the Russian in Russian and the Spaniard in Spanish.  

Terrain and habitat: Forest, Scattered trees and bushes, Wetland, Grassland, Plain, Plateau, Mountain, Valley, Canyon, Tundra, Steppe, Moors/heathland, Desert, River, Lake, Sea/ocean, Beach, Dunes, Mudflats, Reedbeds, Agriculture, City/village, 

Conditions: Flat, Hilly, Mountainous, Rocky, Sandy, Dry, Swampy, Open landscape, Slippery, Dusty, No shadow, High water possible.

Access: Tell how you can explore the area (walking, cycling), where you can park, how to get there, etc. 

Circular trail: Yes/no

Route: Paved road/unpaved road/wide path/narrow trail

Difficulty: easy walk/average walk/strenuous walk

Telescope: Yes/no/can be useful

Accessible by: foot/bicycle/car/wheelchair

Birdwatching hides Yes/no

Good birding: all year round/winter/spring/summer/autumn

Best time to visit: winter/spring/summer/autumn/spring migration/autumn migration

Extra info: If you want to share additional information.

Birdingplaces nearby: If you have any suggestions of nice birding spots nearby

Click on ‘Next’

 

Step 4: Draw a route 

We have developed a user-friendly tool for drawing a route on the map. This helps users to find the way in your birdingplace. Drawing the route works best with a mouse, but is also possible on tablet. This is how you draw a route:

  • Click in the map on the symbol above the trash can.
  • You can then draw a line on the map with your mouse (or finger).
  • Every time you click there appears a point on the map and a line is drawn to that point.
  • To move the map hold down the mouse button. You can continue drawing the line when you let go the mouse button again
  • When you're done with drawing the route, double-click the last bullet and click anywhere on the map
  • A blue dashed line appears and your route is ready! The map shows exactly how long the marked walk is (top left at "Total Distance").
  • Click on ‘Next’ to save the route.
  • You can adjust a route by clicking on the blue dashed line until it becomes red. If it’s red you can click on one of the dots and then you can drag a dot to move it to another position.
  • If you want to delete it and start again, select the route by clicking on the blue dashed line until it becomes red and click on the trash can.
  • Note: On a tablet this works slightly different, but the basics are the same. Use of a telephone to enter a route is also possible, but is impractical due to the small screen. We recommend a PC, laptop or tablet to enter a birdingplace.
  • You can also upload a gpx file if you have one of a walking tour in the area.
  • If you do not remember a route or the exact way to follow, you skip this step and proceed to the next step

Click on ‘Next’

 

Step 5: Place info on the map

Enrich the map with info icons. It’s easy to do. Click on a location in the map and a menu will appear. Click on the icon of your choice and add text if desired. You can always drag the icon later to put it in exactly the right position. You can place icons for the following items.

  • Bird: place one or more bird species that you have seen on the map (you can select the bird in your own language). Note: protection of birds comes first! So never place vulnerable or endangered bird species on the map or if you think that disturbance may occur. Birdingplaces monitors entries on this kind of information. If we think disturbance might occur, we ask you to remove the information from the website.
  • Point of interest: For example: other animals or plants, interesting facts, handy tip, but also shortcut, risk or high water, very rich birdarea, etc.
  • Parking: Important. Mark the place where you can park. Users receive a Google Maps route to this point if they want to visit the area.
  • Viewpoint
  • Bird-watching hide: for birdwatching huts, photo hides or viewing screens
  • Visitor center
  • Observation tower
  • Restaurant / café

Click on ‘Next’

 

Step 6 Birdlist

Select the 30 most appealing birds that you can see in the area. You can select the birds from a clickable list.

Click on ‘Next’

 

Step 7 Your bird Top 5

Select your 5 favourite birds in this area or birds for which you would visit this area. These birds will be shown next to your birdingplace with beautiful photos.

Click on ‘Next’

 

Step 8 (optional) Images 

Upload photos of the area or birds that you have photographed in the area.

Click on "Publish" and then you are ready!

Your area is checked by Birdingplaces and then published online. We do this review to ensure high quality of information. We want the information to be of high value to birders. So they can really enjoy the birdingplaces and are motivated to share nice bird-areas themselves.😊