Bird migration in Finland is being closely monitored thanks to the Spring of Migratory Birds application developed at the University of Jyväskylä. The app has been downloaded over 200,000 times and has seen significant improvements in user-friendliness, species recognition, and sound visualization.
Chief Application Architect Ari Lehtiö and academy professor Otso Ovaskainen are pleased with the progress made so far and have received further funding to continue developing the app for at least five more years. The app is included in the University’s citizen science center and is part of a natural scientist module.
One of the key features of the app is its point calculation network coordinated by Luomus, which is crucial for accurate bird information in Finland. Users can also participate in point counting activities where they record bird sounds for meadows and urban areas.
Ovaskainen mentioned that an ongoing calibration project is underway to combine data collected by citizens with existing data from Luomus to ensure consistency. The app has already been used in scientific research and will continue to be an essential tool for monitoring bird migration in Finland. Overall, the Spring of Migratory Birds application has become a valuable resource for natural scientists and birdwatchers alike.
