When we published the Norwegian online report system for birds in May 2008, the next goal was to release a new joint Norwegian/Swedish version a couple of years later. However, handling nearly 60 million records from 30K reporters has been a great challenge. Hard work since then, by more than a dozen developers and biodiversity professionals from Norway and Sweden, has finally come to an end.
 Ten million bird records from Norway were entered into the database in the period from May 2008 until October 2014. This is the most successful and extensive effort carried out by the general public when it comes to collecting biodiversity data in Norway. |
The World's best report system for birds
Two days ago the database was shut down before migration to the new platform. Tomorrow we'll publish the long awaited new site. This will be huge milestone, and I am confident that reporters will be satisfied. The two similar report systems, artsobservasjoner.no and artportalen.se have been and will still be (by far) the best report systems in the world. I have tested most major report systems globally, and none of them match our system when it comes to data quality, result pages, data organization for the user, or the tools available for validators.
Reporting abstinence
Three days with no report system has been challenging to cope with for many birders in Norway. They can't report their sightings, and they can't see what others have found. Hopefully the new site has been worth waiting for. Launch is set for tomorrow around noon - and then we'll let the addicts in!
Everything comes to an end, as does the massive yawn of the Great Black-backed Gull that has been heading the former site. The picture was shot during my bachelor-party in April 2007, and is for sure the most viewed picture of mine - ever. A fine Puffin will replace the gull in the new version that will be launched tomorrow.
Artsobservasjoner (Norway) and Artportalen (Sweden) is a collaboration between the two countries species databanks and several NGO's (like Birdlife Norway where I work).
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