We are pleased to announce the official release of Bird Journal version 2.2. The point release includes fixes to problems people were having with version 2.1.
What’s changed in Bird Journal version 2.2:
New feature:
- Taxonomic ordering. The default order is set to taxonomic; if you prefer to switch back to alphabetic go to the options menu - personalisation – ordering.
Bugs fixed:
- The primary taxonomy was ignored, and Clements used instead, for the Continent edition.
- Using the TAB key on species entry causes count not to be recorded.
- The Edit Locations button was incorrectly still shown on the Edit Locations screen, when the windows text size is lower than normal.
- Applying a location filter to a checklist filter, could make the number of species increase.
- The species entry box had small inaccuracies in ordering.
- Sometimes the options file would not be correctly saved.
- Crash during import, where both a sighting and entry property in the database have the same name.
- Crash during import, where some unusual characters are present in the file.
- Crash during import, with large numbers of locations with differing case.
- Problem during import, where the subspecies parts of scientific names were ignored, when in their own column.
- Rare problem, where a screen may be shown invisibly, giving the impression that the software has stopped working.
Bird Journal version 2 users are entitled to a free upgrade and an email will be sent to you with the upgrade details. If you have not received this email feel free to get in touch.
For the second year running we are exhibiting at the spring fair in Tamworth on Saturday 21st May and Sunday 22nd May 9:30am to 5.30pm (10am to 4pm Sunday).
Christine and Justin will be present on both days to answer any questions you may have in regards to Bird Journal, free demos of the software will also be available.
Purchases of Bird Journal at the fair come with a free DVD boxed copy, normally worth £8. We’ll also include a free gift with every purchase (while stocks last).
We are located inside the Middleton Hall, and we look forward to seeing you on the 21st or 22nd May at the birdwatchers spring fair in Tamworth.
For full details about the fair go to: www.birdwatchers-springfair.co.uk
Synonym lists can be used to change bird species names to names that are more familiar. For this example let’s take the species Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) and the subspecies Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus hudsonius) from the Birds of the United Kingdom (BOU) Checklist. Start by creating a new entry and add both species into the sightings list like the example below. Note: To enter subspecies go to the Options next to the species textbox field and make sure to select the show ‘Species and Subspecies’.
As you may know, the species Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus hudsonius) is known elsewhere as Northern Harrier (American). However, with the BOU selected as the Primary Taxonomy, the species will be displayed in the entry page like the example below:
Now if you wanted to change the display name of Hen Harrier (hudsonius) to Northern Harrier (American) we can use the synonym list feature to change the display name. The following tutorial shows how to create new synonym names: http://www.bluebirdtechnology.com/BirdJournalTutorials.aspx?ref=10
Once the synonym list is in place, it will be silently running in the background and will automatically change Hen Harrier (hudsonius) to Northern Harrier (American) throughout the journal. The entry page will now display the species names like the example below.
For your convenience I have attached the synonym list file created using Bird Journal, feel free to import the list into Bird Journal (note: the file is a closed format and cannot be viewed by opening it directly, it must be viewed within Bird Journal).
Prefered Species Names.bjs (336.00 bytes)
We hope you find this tutorial useful and kindly let us know if you have any questions.
We would
like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for
your support over the last year. We will continue to develop innovative
bird and wildlife recording software products over 2011.
Enjoy the birds throughout the holiday season!
Best wishes,
Justin & Christine
Bluebird Technology
The last delivery for first class ends on the 21st Dec. Orders of Bird Journal Box Copy taken before 5pm tomorrow will be dispatched in time for Christmas for the UK.
We will send a free Christmas Gift (Parker pen presented in a gift box) for any orders taken from now and the 21st Dec 2010 up to 5pm.
(The offer applies to the UK only and ends 21/12/10 5pm)
I hope you are enjoying the winter birds and are keeping nice and warm. As we are approaching closer to the festive holidays, we would like to inform you of our last posting dates.
The last post for UK and the Channel Islands is 21st December and for Europe is 13th December. We apologise for international post as the last posting date has now past. However, feel free to order Bird Journal as a download copy and receive this instantly by email 24/7.
We wish you all the best for the holiday period; have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas.
We would like to thank Mike Javis for creating the Mammals
of Australia checklist and also Chris Love and David Spencer for completing the
UK Macro Moth Checklist Project. As a
result of their dedication and time, you can download the wildlife checklists
for free from here:
The checklists are ready to use as soon as they are imported
into Bird Journal Complete Edition.