Turning birders into conservationists
"The idea was, and still is, for the app to be a tech enabler for citizen scientists, researchers and conservationists, while simultaneously making birding cool."
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2017/01/03beenvirobirds_68688.jpg)
A new app which will help make every community birder a conservationist will be featured in a presentation at the next evening meeting of the Modderfontein Conservation Society.
The meeting will take place at the Modderfontein Town Hall at 1 Casino Road at 7.30pm on January 19.
Mr Robbie Vermont, of the conservation society, said at the meeting the new app known as Birdlasser will be unveiled by developer Henk Nel,
Mr Vermont said the app turns birders into citizen scientists by allowing them to make a valuable contribution to conservation efforts by providing an easy way of submitting sightings to a central database. (The SA Bird Atlassing Project2).
“Mr Nel has a technical background and has worked in software development companies all round the world,” said Mr Vermont.
“I’ve always been a bird watcher, but the bug bit me big time about 10 years ago when birding became a bit of an obsession. It was also then when I became exposed to atlassing and I realised what an amazing movement citizen science is,” said Mr Nel.
Mr Nel said he began the project three years ago by combining his technology knowledge with his passion
“The idea was, and still is, for the app to be a tech enabler for citizen scientists, researchers and conservationists, while simultaneously making birding cool,” said Mr Nel.
He said BirdLasser is a fun way to record sightings and share with friends, the community and contribute to conservation.
Visitors are welcome to attend this talk.
An entrance fee of R30 will be charged to help cover expenses.
For more information, call Mr Vermont on 011 608-2693 or 082 800 3704.
Readers can also go to www.modderconserve.co.za and www.birdlasser.com