WriterByNature.com

English is a confusing language, so I’m not surprised that what I think are keywords are misunderstood by Google and other search engines. But every once in a while I get lucky.

Whatbird.com is an interactive bird identification site. What makes it really user-friendly is the amazing amount of detail organized in a user-friendly way. I spent hours listening to comparison recordings of thrushes, which are more often heard than seen, comparing photos and illustrations for visual identification, and checking out regional behavior differences in this  easy-to-read display of scientific data.

I started to write, this post, but then dipped back in to visit pages of birds I have photographed or written about. Each bird is described in a species overview, but if that’s too much for a beginner, there is a tab dedicated to identification, a tab for behavior and a tab for visual images of the bird in flight, nesting or where it spends time.

Most websites make my head spin or give me vertigo when I visit. There’s often a great deal of information, but I feel overwhelmed visually (I keep the sound muted).

Whatbird.com has a bird identification list and a search feature that actually works. This site manages to organize and present information on the web that works for field study. There’s also a forum, a way to link to this site (on my list for my next tech session), and interactive opportunities to post your own photos, create your own field guide.

I’m not one to hang out online. I’d rather be hiking – but this is website will keep me busy when I’m stuck indoors.