Vogels in beeld
www.sovon.nl
Seen a special bird during a walk in the wood or spotted a
robin in the tree in the backyard? On www.sovon.nl people can share these observations with other nature lovers,
walkers and bird-watchers. Via SOVON already 7,000 volunteers collect
information about birds. It concerns specialized information which is used for
official counts. Once every two years these data are processed and published.
Not really a job for the ordinary bird-watcher. And certainly no quick feedback
on one’s findings. With the help of Digitale Pioniers the whole system has been
digitalized, so that the bird-watcher can now put in data
online and keep his own birdmap up-to-date. The tool allows to pass on a report
on the basis of a map (which is used by every nature organization). The
bird-watcher can immediately see that his report has been added, which other
reports have been made in the relevant neighbourhood, and how many birds have
been spotted there during last year. The user can report every bird and
immediately receive feedback. He can also see whether there is an active birds
study group in his area. The tool is therefore not only interesting for the
beginning bird-watcher, but certainly also for the thousands of volunteers
already active via SOVON. In August 2005 the renewed site was launched broadly
within the target group. The Vereniging Vogelonderzoek Nederland is a private
association of voluntary observers who execute scientific research about bird
populations in the Netherlands.
Final products
A system has been developed which enables bird observations
to be put in by geographic location and by time. Every observer has his own area
where his observations are being kept, where maps can be retrieved, and where
data are exported to Excel. On survey maps he can see the other observers’
reports. When the observer has stored his data, these will be visible for the
district coordinator. He controls and validates the data and might ask the
observer for more details. Only then the data will be incorporated into the
database which is also being used for common goals. This way the reports stay
reliable. The tool can be delivered completely empty for other nature
organizations.
Impact
The sytem causes the organization to work much easier and
faster. The volunteers receive immediate feedback on their observations and feel
more acknowledged this way. A slight fear existed that the target group, mainly
consisting of elderly people, wouldn’t appreciate the new system very much, but
this fear proved to be unfounded. Several nature organizations already uttered
the wish to introduce the system in their organization as well. In the summer of
2005 the tool was introduced for the first time on www.wildzoekers.nl nature organization for youths.
Contact
SOVON Vogelonderzoek Nederland, Beek-Ubbergen
Carolyn Vermanen
www.sovon.nl
