Features Users Want Most in Bird Finder Apps

"Most times I'm standing in my house viewing birds from the window. I dislike having to 'start checklist' and have it running like I'm actually walking around seeking various birds to log. There should be an option to just log one at a time at that very moment."

"I used to be able to save just a single species I saw while out and about on Merlin. Now it forces me to eBird and forces me to start a traditional checklist."

"It would be helpful if there was a photo of the bird next to each listing because you have to search outside the app."

"App needs a field guide so that when you click on a bird you can verify you've seen it."

"I've used this app for years. And liked it. I just ordered a bunch of notebooks to go back to entering by hand. This doesn't work if I don't have gps, nor will it allow me to have the location services off. It does not use the pack which I downloaded."

"The new upgrade has rendered the app useless for me. I no longer can create an offline list even in airplane mode. When traveling with other birders we often recreate our list in the van while traveling."

"I agree with the other reviewer below that the latest updates to this app have virtually eliminated the most useful features of eBird for me."

"You have to switch between this and Merlin a lot for no real reason."

"I use this app as a checklist, not to do counts. It's gotten a like easier to use for quick entry, but could be improved enormously. I might be wrong, but my guess is most people using this aren't giving a count, but are giving a species count."

Build privacy-first bird logging app with optional location sharing

22% of complaints focus on forced location tracking. Allow users to save private locations, use approximate areas, or manually drop pins instead of requiring precise GPS. This addresses the #2 complaint and differentiates from eBird's data-collection-first approach.

Create true offline-first architecture with local-only option

28% of complaints about connectivity issues. Build app that works completely offline, syncs when available, and doesn't require internet to start checklists. Many birders are in remote areas by nature of the activity.

Offer quick 'spot logging' mode alongside traditional checklists

Users repeatedly request ability to log single birds without starting full checklists. Provide Instagram-like quick capture for casual use, with option to build detailed lists for serious birders. Captures both casual and dedicated users.

Integrate field guide photos directly in species selection

Multiple requests for in-app photos to verify identifications. Users currently switch between apps or external resources. Built-in visual confirmation reduces friction and increases confidence in logging.

No review/verification process - trust user observations

15% complain about 'expert' rejection of valid sightings. Position as personal birding journal, not citizen science database. This removes gatekeeping frustration and serves casual birders eBird alienates.