Keeping Records on the Smartphone

As I get older I know I went places and saw stuff but can not always remember where and when. Not senile just memory almost full.

I know I saw Giant Otters in Spain in the 1970s but was it Madrid or Barcelona (I think it was Madrid) and did I see a Giant Armadillo at ZSL in the 1960s? Or is it my imagination?

I want to start recording what I saw and where on the smartphone and I am looking to this community for recommendations. I don't really want to design a database, I would like to use an app that has done some of the work for me. Bird Watchers are well catered for and can get complete lists where all they have to do is tick.

I am using Android but any suggestions would be excellent (don't say pen and paper please).

 

The simplist way would be write notes in the Memo app.

 

Simple but not as feature rich as I would like.

I would like to be able to export it to excel or something similar to have a searchable, sortable list or even better do that in the app as well.

 

This is a great idea for an app. There must be someone on the forum with the skills to build an app like this I would think.

 

Three fifths of an apple I think....

 

I bet you're wondering what a mobile phone is.....

 

Very smart. They take photos to. In fact take a photo of any animal and the phone tells you what the animal is. Then using the touch screen technology touch the name of the animal and up comes a lengthy description of it. The sooner they get this technology in cameras there'll be no need to ask for ID help on this forum.

 

Just throwing this topic back out there as I still need to find a answer.

If anyone has a populated spread sheet they are willing to share I could use that in google apps, although I am still hoping for a database app.

I did think of using Zootierliste to populate the possible species but that was a complete pain.

So, anyone have a solution or something useful to share?

 

London Zoo had two giant armadillos; the first obtained in 1959 was still there in the early 1960s.

The second was acquired in 1976 when the President of Brazil presented one to Queen Elizabeth; this animal was housed in the old Stork & Ostrich House where I saw it many times. It was sent to Rotterdam Zoo in 1978.

 

Thanks for that Tim, in my memory I was sure it was in the old Stork & Ostrich House. I remember there being a Giant Anteater there as well.

Still looking for an electronic Life List though.

I also found an old Belle Vue Guidebook but I can not remember going there (unless it was on one of the XYZ club coach trips).

 

If you saw it in the Stork & Ostrich House that would have been the 1970s specimen; the earlier animal was kept in the old South Mammal House, near the old Monkey House, both buildings being demolished to make way for the Sobell Pavilions.

Yes, in addition to ratites and storks, the Stork & Ostrich House has been used for quite a range of species over years: including giant armadillo, giant anteater, pudu, musk deer.....

 

There are a number of list apps, mostly to do lists but may be they could be adapted.

 

I am trialing a simple spreadsheet using google sheets and google drive to store it.

That way I can access it from any device anywhere provided I have a phone signal or wifi.

 

An app would be great, and please if you find one post it here

Imho if there are good birding apps one should be able to use them for other species too?

 

You could try speaking to these guys. Mainly designed for bird records (or North American records) but does have some phone functionality.

The World's Premier Birding Software | Birder's Diary



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