Use the Sightings Explorer (Figure 1) to view, analyze, and log your sightings on the interactive area map.
Figure 1 - The Sightings Explorer
The main map display area shows a street-level detail map with your sightings overlaid. The sightings display can be one of four display types. Please see The Map Toolbar option for an explanation of the data layer display types.
The map screen is divided into three main sections:
The Map Toolbar is the top part of the map screen. It contains options for the display of the data layer - the sightings, locations, and sightings analysis information. It also contains options for filtering the bird display, and for filtering the display by month. Click the heading for more information on the Map Toolbar.
The Map Toolbox is the left part of the map screen. It contains options for navigating the map - zooming, moving (panning your view), printing, and for adding sightings.
The Map Display Area is the main viewing area. It is in this area that the map and sightings information will be displayed.
About the Map
The map contains the following map layers: Lakes, Islands, Highways, County and City boundaries, and Street detail. The level of detail displayed depends on the zoom level. At the outermost level, you will see the lakes and islands (Figure 2).
Figure 2 - Lake and Island Display
As you zoom in more, first the rivers, then the highways, then the county boundaries will become visible (Figure 3).
Figure 3 - Highway and County/City Boundary Display
Finally, the street level detail will appear (Figure 4).
Figure 4 - Street-Level Detail
You can identify any of the map features by first making sure that none of the buttons on the map toolbox are selected, then clicking on a road or other feature. The name of the feature will be displayed. To hide the feature name, click on a blank area of the map.
Map Accuracy
The mapping layers come from difference sources and have varying levels of positional accuracy. The most accurate layer is the street detail layer. The lake, island, river, highway, and boundary layers are from a much less accurate source. Although these layers have been partially fitted to the street layer, at times you may seem streets running into lakes, or rivers who's position isn't entirely accurate. In those cases, the street layer should be used to determine the location for a sighting.