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ebird in China (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tony.saw
- Start date
Can't help you with whether Google maps is available in China. For the rest, I presume you're talking about the eBird app.
To record your sightings with the eBird app, if you have the proper packs for the area installed, eBird will work off-line. Your location is from your phone's GPS chip, as long as your phone is on, even in airplane mode. You may select your location when you're back online.
Using the eBird app Explore function will not work if you're offline.
To record your sightings with the eBird app, if you have the proper packs for the area installed, eBird will work off-line. Your location is from your phone's GPS chip, as long as your phone is on, even in airplane mode. You may select your location when you're back online.
Using the eBird app Explore function will not work if you're offline.
Niels, were you off-line, without data connection? I interpret that such was the OP's question. If I put my phone in Airplane Mode, eBird explore presents an error.I did a simple test of using ebird - explore - blood pheasant, limiting the observations to current year, and got this result. It certainly seems ebird is able to get observations ...
NielsSign in
ebird.org
No, even though I also think that was an original question, I considered my post a partial answer -- others had been able to (somehow) get their observations registered as ebird observations.
It is really difficult to know if the observers have uploaded while within China or after leaving China; I did see some very Chinese-looking names but also a lot of bird trips when looking at individual observations.
Niels
I think it is very clear from the China EBird dataset that there are many Chinese EBird users, in addition to many non-Chinese submissions.
In theory, EBird submission in the app is independent of Googlemaps etc in that Ebird uses phone GPS for positional data/track.
The app can be used in flight mode on a phone so it should still be possible to use it China and submit lists on return home from China if that becomes necessary
In theory, EBird submission in the app is independent of Googlemaps etc in that Ebird uses phone GPS for positional data/track.
The app can be used in flight mode on a phone so it should still be possible to use it China and submit lists on return home from China if that becomes necessary
Last edited:
Hi Tony.saw (and everyone). I am living in China and use ebird. Google maps is blocked in China, as such if I were to submit an observation I couldn't do it using the 'submit --> find on map', all I get is a blank screen:
However, I suspect most people who use ebird in China have access to a VPN (a computer programme that allows your computer to act as if it's in a different location), thus allowing access to Google maps.
I do not use the ebird app. Only the website.
Hope this helps!
However, I suspect most people who use ebird in China have access to a VPN (a computer programme that allows your computer to act as if it's in a different location), thus allowing access to Google maps.
I do not use the ebird app. Only the website.
Hope this helps!
Jon.Bryant
Well-known member
My wife has been posting records recently. You do not need a VPN to do this.
The only problem is that the track of your location does not show properly in the app (I presume only while in country). But you do not need this to select a location and submit records.
Of course you either need a local sim or wifi to post records or interact with the hotspot database.
With an ESIM for China I was able (without a VPN) to explore hotspots in the area. This sometimes failed on first launch (saying login error), but always worked on relaunching the app.
That said, EBird is not favoured by Chinese Birdeatchers and I generally found hotspot information rather sketchy with scant observations - comparison with the Chinese app showed that some species are common but rarely reported (by foreigners?) on EBird.
The other problem with the EBird hotspots are that some are definitely out of bounds for foreigners - an example is Brown Eared-Pheasant where it turns out that the best sites can only be visited by Chinese residents. A lot is also changing in China and even ‘accessible’ sites are now conservation areas where you need to apply for a permit in advance.
So I personally would not try to explore EBird Hotspots in China apart from say for the parks in big cities like Beijing. You really need a local to advise or to be able to read Chinese and interrogate the Chinese app…. Or pay for a tour!
The only problem is that the track of your location does not show properly in the app (I presume only while in country). But you do not need this to select a location and submit records.
Of course you either need a local sim or wifi to post records or interact with the hotspot database.
With an ESIM for China I was able (without a VPN) to explore hotspots in the area. This sometimes failed on first launch (saying login error), but always worked on relaunching the app.
That said, EBird is not favoured by Chinese Birdeatchers and I generally found hotspot information rather sketchy with scant observations - comparison with the Chinese app showed that some species are common but rarely reported (by foreigners?) on EBird.
The other problem with the EBird hotspots are that some are definitely out of bounds for foreigners - an example is Brown Eared-Pheasant where it turns out that the best sites can only be visited by Chinese residents. A lot is also changing in China and even ‘accessible’ sites are now conservation areas where you need to apply for a permit in advance.
So I personally would not try to explore EBird Hotspots in China apart from say for the parks in big cities like Beijing. You really need a local to advise or to be able to read Chinese and interrogate the Chinese app…. Or pay for a tour!
As you said, this is an increasing problem. It's often difficult for foreigners to obtain these permits as 1) information is all in Chinese and 2) the booking system often doesn't accept passport numbers (only local ID cards which foreigners don't have).
I have noticed hotspots in other countries sometimes have [restricted access] on them, I haven't seen this in China. Even the number 1 and 2 hotspots for number of species in China are now restricted access. Number 1 is Baihualing where foreigners need a permit from the local government to enter (local Chinese can turn up and fill out a form). Number 2 is Nanhui where access to the 'microforests' has been blocked for everyone with a large fence erected (however, it seems to be a cat and mouse game of people removing sections / bending posts to make it possible to enter before it is repaired).
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