Have you ever dreamed of traveling the globe to witness exotic birds in their natural habitats, from the Torrent Ducks of Peru to the Ivory Gulls of the Arctic? What if you could embark on such adventures without leaving your home, enduring jetlag, or even packing a bag? Welcome to the world of Google Street View birding, a unique and increasingly popular way to explore the avian wonders of our planet.
Google Street View, a feature of Google Maps, offers a vast collection of panoramic images, allowing users to virtually traverse over 10 million miles of streets and trails across more than 80 countries. While many initially used this technology to find their homes or explore familiar streets, a growing community of bird enthusiasts has discovered a more exciting application: birdwatching.
My own journey into Google Street View birding began much like many others. Intrigued by the initial launch of Google Street View, I attempted to find my house, a somewhat predictable first step. However, unlike most, my curiosity didn’t end there. As a passionate birder, my mind quickly turned to the possibilities of spotting birds within this virtual world.
The allure of Google Street View birding lies in its unique challenges and rewards. While we know birds inhabit every corner of our planet, finding them in the vast, often empty landscapes of Street View requires patience and a keen eye. Navigating roads virtually, clicking and dragging to pan the camera, becomes a digital birding expedition. Spotting a bird, often a tiny, indistinct blob against the backdrop, is a moment of triumph. The temporal aspect adds another layer of complexity; the seconds between each captured image mean a bird in flight might vanish in the subsequent frame.
Despite these challenges, success is attainable. My early discoveries, including Laughing Gulls in Florida and a Great Egret in Texas, were shared on my blog in 2013. As Google expanded Street View with backpack-mounted cameras, capturing pedestrian pathways and remote locations, the potential for virtual birding exploded. Incredible finds in Midway Atoll and the Falkland Islands followed, along with dedicated virtual trips to birding hotspots like Mexico and Florida.
Laughing Gull perched on a railing in Florida, showcasing a common coastal bird species easily observable on Google Street View.
However, Google Street View birding remained a solitary pursuit until I introduced it to Facebook. Creating the “Google Street View Birding” Facebook group in November sparked an unexpected wave of enthusiasm. Sharing a link in a birding memes group ignited the interest of tech-savvy birders, and the community rapidly grew.
Within weeks, over 750 members joined, collectively scrolling through countless miles of Street View in search of birds. The collaborative effort proved remarkably effective. While my solo searches yielded primarily common, easily identifiable species like herons and gulls, the group effort has now identified over 580 different bird species – approximately 5% of all bird species globally. The Facebook group buzzes with screenshots, links, and lively debates about bird identifications daily.
The scope of the group’s virtual expeditions and the collective expertise in deciphering grainy images are truly impressive. Over 30 gull species have been identified, including the remarkable Ivory Gull in Nunavut. Members have spotted Kelp Geese in the Falklands, Laysan Ducks on Midway Atoll, Bald Eagles in Texas, and both California and Andean Condors. Remarkably, even smaller birds like a Vermilion Flycatcher in the Galapagos and a Rufous Hummingbird in Alaska have been found. Each sighting, accompanied by a screenshot and link, invites community input for identification verification.
Ivory Gull spotted in Nunavut, Canada, a rare Arctic bird demonstrating the potential for discovering unique species through Google Street View.
You might examine these screenshots and question the identification, noting the often-tiny, pixelated birds. But this mirrors the reality of birding itself. Birders frequently analyze low-quality images, engaging in debates over species identification. The Facebook group provides a similar experience but in a low-stakes, enjoyable online environment. It’s a testament to the internet’s potential for community building and shared passions.
If you’re intrigued and wish to join this virtual birding adventure, the “Google Street View Birding” Facebook group is open to new members. To enhance your experience, here are a few tips:
- The primary focus is discovering new species, which naturally becomes increasingly challenging as common species are identified. A shared Google Spreadsheet within the group tracks identified species, highlighting those still to be found. This resource also includes tabs for amusing finds like birders captured by Street View cameras, other animals, and birds featured on signs or artwork.
- There are two main approaches to Google Street View birding: targeted searching in specific locations known for certain species or more random explorations, venturing down unfamiliar virtual roads and trails.
- Upon discovering a new bird, capture a screenshot, post it with the Google Street View link in the Facebook group, and revel in the satisfaction of global birding from the comfort of your own space.
Vermilion Flycatcher in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, showcasing a vibrant and distinctive bird species found in specific geographic locations.
Google Street View birding offers a fun, communal, and accessible way to engage with birdwatching. It’s a virtual passport to avian biodiversity, inviting you to explore the world’s birds without leaving your chair. Join the community and discover the surprising birds waiting to be found on Google Street View.
