Autumn Years Spring 2023

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

What’s Up with Apps By Luke Yeagley

LOGAN BARONE

W inter is coming to an end, and chances are most people are excited about spending more time outside. This column has covered apps to help plan outdoor activities like hiking and camping and even to help find a pickle ball game. However, this time it will dive into some apps that highlight advancements in technology and augment outdoor recreation. There are a lot of different outdoor hobbies that have been getting more attention lately, especially from app developers. Furthermore, it seems that app users have been flocking to apps that combine outdoor activities with science and social interaction. The science has improved, with apps that help you identify fish, plants and birds instantly, or find the best fishing spots based on the season and location. There really is an app out there for every type of nature lover this spring and some are pinpointed below.

FISHBRAIN

Growing up I enjoyed going fishing. It was something I could do with my grandfather, my dad and my friends at any age. Finding a good fishing spot was similar to how I find a good mechanic nowadays, through word of mouth. Sometimes you got lucky and your buddy’s secret spot landed you a whole day of fun. Other times you might leave with only a few bites. Now Fishbrain has completely changed the game but left its best parts. Users can log in to the app, find popular places to fish, post their catches, and chat with each other. The app also tracks the best times and places to fish based on your location. It even shows you the most common fish caught in the area.

AUDUBON FIELD GUIDE

The National Audubon Society is one of the oldest organizations of its kind. As you may know, it is a foremost source and community on all things birds. Its mobile app contains a field guide to over 800 species of birds found in North America. The field guide helps you identify birds you might see by narrowing down the species commonly found in your area by time of year and then providing you with options to choose the sounds you hear, the colors you see in the birds’ feathers and more. If you log in to the app using email or social media, you can report sightings of birds in your area and search for recent sightings as well. This app works well and offers bird lovers and bird newbies a fun way to elevate their bird watching experience. While the app is a wealth of knowledge, it does require the users to do some work themselves to identify birds, which is ideal for learning more about the species.

62 AUTUMN YEARS I SPRING 2023