Birdwatchers in Scandinavia don’t want to miss a trick. They are using cellphones equipped with a GPS satellite positioning receiver to help fellow twitchers dash to the sites where rare birds have been spotted. When a member spies an interesting bird, they send a text message describing it, complete with the GPS coordinates. The text is automatically posted on a Web page and forwarded to the phone or email address of every twitcher who has registered. Subscribers with GPS-enabled phones can view a small map, pinpointing the spot, others can get direction from the websites. If it takes off, the system will be rolled out to…
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Mind
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
News

Technology
Killer robots are here – we must finally decide whether to accept them
Leader

Technology
Quantum computer quickly mines cryptocurrency while using less energy
News

Mind
How to sparkle in conversation with strangers
Comment
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time
2
Global map reveals the vast scale of underground fungal networks
3
What is a ‘normal’ memory slowdown, and when should I worry?
4
Toy universe shows that time could be a quantum illusion
5
The distant world that is our best hope of finding alien life
6
First working nuclear clock heralds a new era in timekeeping
7
Mysterious ‘cold blob’ in the Atlantic suggests the AMOC is weakening
8
El Niño has started and the weather could get weird
9
The relationship recession is even bigger for Gen Z than we thought
10
Understanding anorexia’s grip on the brain could unlock new therapies