FIELD GUIDES FOR YOUR PHONE
Download these apps to learn more about your surroundings.
BIRDS ROBERTS VII MULTIMEDIA BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Roberts app might not look as impressive on your coffee table as the stupendous Roberts VII hardcover, but it delivers the same info and it’s much cheaper. The app provides detailed information about 968 bird species and has interactive functions like a checklist, bird-call recordings and GPS maps. It will take up 1 GB of storage on your phone, so you might need to cull your music collection before you download it. Cost: R500
NEWMAN’S BIRDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
The Newman’s app is a concise field guide for your phone, rather than an encyclopaedia with long descriptions. It features 975 bird species found in southern Africa, with illustrations, photos and about 800 bird-call recordings. You can download the free Lite version to see if you like it before you buy the full version. Cost: R290
BUTTERFLIES WOODHALL’S BUTTERFLIES OF SOUTH AFRICA
With this app on your smartphone or tablet you can easily identify the butterflies you encounter on your Sunday picnic – without lugging around a heavy guidebook. It features more than 800 butterfly species. There are 3 000 colour photos showing both the male and female (if they look different) and the upper side and underside of each species. Each entry contains information about the species’ distribution, its common name, its wingspan, identifying features and habitat. ( You can search using the scientific name or the common name.) You’ll also learn whether the butterfly mimics other species, what the larvae eat and when the butterfly is usually seen. There’s even a handy function that allows you to compare two species. Using your phone’s GPS location services, you can refine your search even further: The app will only show species found in your region. Keep a record of your sightings by compiling a list of the butterflies you’ve seen, with the date, location and notes about each sighting. Cost: R290
TREES THETREEAPP
This app will help you identify tree species, find out about trees that occur in a specific area and ascertain whether a tree is poisonous or not. It’s easy to use: You start with the full list of species, which is whittled down as you enter defining characteristics like height, shape, leaves and thorns. You can also search the whole list using scientific or common names. If you tap a specific tree, you’ll see a description of the key characteristics, the tree’s habitat, conservation status, what it can be used for and how to plant it. You can filter the results based on your location, and tree names are listed in all 11 official languages where possible. You need Wi-Fi to download the app, but once it’s on your phone or tablet, you don’t need an Internet connection to use it. Cost: R500