[mou] Posting Bird Sitings on a Google Map

[patrick.beauzay@ndsu.edu]

Hello all,

I think this is a good idea.  I would really like to see something like
this added to the MOU online seasonal reporting maps, if it's feasible.  I
realize this would be quite an endeavor, but I think it would be
worthwhile.  Exact dates and locations provide good information for people
wishing to see a particular bird, or to know what's been seen in a
particular area.  Also, the scientific value of accurate mapping is
important, not only in keeping accurate records, but in determining bird
distribution patterns within a county or state.  Something to consider is
the type of map that could be used to plot the data (if this is possible).
 I'm currently compiling North Dakota tiger beetle records and plotting
them on a county outline map overlayed on a physical geographic map of
North Dakota that I generated in Adobe Photoshop.  It's useful to visually
depict where collection records come from in terms of an area's geography.
 Distributional patterns that are not immediately evident from reading
LATLON coordinates or township-range data become clear when they are
precisely plotted on a map.

Good Birding!

Pat

Patrick Beauzay
Department of Entomology
217 Hultz Hall, Bolley Drive
North Dakota State University
Fargo, ND 58105
701-231-9491
Patrick.Beauzay@ndsu.nodak.edu

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/beauzay/tigerbeetles/index.htm
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/beauzay/Mounting_Chalcidoidea/Chalcmount.htm


> Google has recently announced the release of their mapping technology to
> the public.  It would now be possible to post your sighting using a map
> interface, like Google Maps. Think something like this, only birds:
>
> http://www.mywikimap.com/?tag=regular&zip=56001&radius=10
> <http://www.mywikimap.com/>
>
> Sightings could be submitted via a form on the page. Once entered, each
> sighting would be represented by a red marker, visible to anyone.
> Sightings could be filtered by species and/or genera, as well as zip code.
>  This is a very powerful tool that could quickly allow anyone to find the
> exact location of a sighting anywhere in the state at a single glance.
> This would be free to put together and implement on the mou site.  If
> anyone thinks this might be a useful tool, let us know.
>
>
> Alex Watson
> Tom Rogers
>
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