eBird

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This new update has completely broken the app if you try to use it in a location where you cannot get GPS coordinates. Many of the places that I go birding are places where it is not possible to get the location using GPS. It is also impossible to get the location from the map if you don’t have cell service and GPS. If I try to select a recent location (which is what I have done in the past), it tries to download something (what?) and freezes because there is no cell service. So... I am unable to start a count at all. When I do have cell service I still cannot load a previous location. The app just freezes trying to download something. There should be a choice for off-line counting as there used to be. Developers: Thanks for your note but sadly, the app does not work the way you described. I test by going into airplane mode which simulates the locations that I count out in western Marin County. I do have the bird pack downloaded but the only choice it gives me other than to try again to load the GPS location is to Quit or to Choose From a Map which you cannot do without GPS or cell service. The only way I can figure out how to make counts is to start a list while I still have cell service, select a location that I am going to on the map, stop the count, and then when I am on location use that un-submitted list to enter the counts in the real time, so at least I have figured out a workaround.

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I am again running into problems where the app hangs up at “downloading checklist” when I am trying to start a log from places where I don’t have a cell signal. Sometimes if I stand on the dock I can get just enough so it will move forward. Funny thing, later when I go to submit, it has no problem finding my location. I think it should just ask “use recent pack” or “ use installed pack” as I am within NYS 99.9% of the time. I have submitted an email, but I understand that responses may be delayed during these times. The new update initially caused me some issues, but turning off “tracking” based on feedback from the developers isn’t helping now, It’s back giving me problems.

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I have used this app for years with much success, however recent updates essentially force users to always allow it access to location services, in the process weakening privacy and breaking functionality. While there is certainly value in using location services to create precise tracks of the area birded, particularly for a new location, any location data collected should be viewed as private, something for a user to disclose or not disclose at user option, i.e. the app should always operate, albeit perhaps degraded, without location data. To me this is a basic privacy principle. But more than that: birding in the field often takes the user out of coverage and although GPS signal remain available, lack of internet access breaks functionality. Cornell management needs to reestablish proper governance over eBird mobile, and take decisions like the ones that broke this app out of the hands of the developers.

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I’ve been using eBird app for years. And liked it. I just ordered a bunch of notebooks to go back to entering by hand. This doesn’t work if I don’t have gps, nor will it allow me to have the location services off. It does not use the pack which I was forced to download, rather, it keeps telling me to please turn on my location services. Big, endless, unusable loop. What is the point of the pack? Why can’t I just use a recent location? Oh, and if I DO turn my location services on and choose a recent location, it immediately pops into the list and starts tracking. Developer says battery drain is due to leaving the screen on, not using the GPS. I usually enter as I bird and, to do so, I need the screen on. I turn off tracking to save battery. I often am out birding more than eight hours. With eBird on, the battery can be gone in 3. Sorry, it’s just awful. Will start back with pencil and paper and enter them as I see them.

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Having this app default to tracking is unacceptable. I usually bird while I’m working (data collection on USFS lands) and having this app recording tracks in the background of other work-related ESRI apps kills your battery in no time. You can’t shut this function off in settings, and if you shut ebird to conserve the battery, it once again starts tracking when you reopen your list. Also, the location is chosen automatically without being able to choose your location from a map where you already have previous submissions. Perhaps the intent was to take away some steps to make eBird more user friendly for beginners, but as a long time user I really hate this version and have stopped using it. It’s now way too much of a hassle to use while working.