Conservation and biodiversity apps training session: 03-03-2015

This morning 8 NCVs and the Heritage Skills students attended an interesting training session at the Pateley Bridge council chambers about conservation and biodiversity apps, led by Dr Anita Glover. Anita is a biologist with a specialism in bat ecology from the University of Leeds. She is very interested in 'Citizen Science' which aims to get amateurs interested in science issues.

The first part of the morning involved Anita showing us the various apps and online tools available and then, after a break, we got the chance to investigate the different apps on our smart phones and tablets.
In general, recording apps (i.e. those that allow you to record different species seen and share this information with others) are often free, whereas ID guides are usually charged for.  Often the recording apps will provide an element of an ID guide within them.  Apps that were covered in the course included:

Recording apps:

-          Apps to record specific native taxa, e.g. iRecord ladybirds, iRecord butterflies and mammal tracker

-          Invasive species recording apps such as plant tracker and aqua invaders
Plant tracker can also be accessed online as a website and shows distribution maps of invasive species. These maps don't seem to be able to be accessed on a smart phone.

-          Apps to help track plant health, e.g. the forestry Commission’s tree alert (useful to record instances of tree diseases spotted) and OPAL’s tree health survey

-          Apps that allow you to set up customised survey forms for your own surveys, e.g. Fieldtrip GB

ID guides:

-          ID guides developed by Isoperla, e.g. Wild Flower ID, tree ID and herptile ID (£2.99 each or £8.99 for a fixed bundle of 4 - 2 tree guides, a flower guide and a fungus guide.)

-          Collins bird guide (£14.00 for iphones and ipads only)

-          ispot (not an app, but available as an online tool which allows you to post up photos for confirmation of identification)

Thanks to the AONB office for organising this event. I finished off the day by going home and buying the Isoperla bundle and bird ID apps which are excellent for using when you are out and about. I will no longer have to carry heavy ID books and charts!

Ros E.