A ROBERTS REVOLUTION?

The recently released Roberts Birds of Southern Africa app shares its name with the long-trusted version that many of us have relied on for years. But make no mistake, this is not a simple update. It's a completely new product, built from the ground up by a new developer and offering a fresh experience under a familiar name.

- TREVOR HARDAKER

Keeping up to date

At the outset, perhaps the biggest change is that it is no longer a once-off purchase but, like many apps these days, it's now a subscription-based model with a current annual charge of R250. While this may be a shift for users, the rationale is clear: ongoing development, regular updates and the ability to respond to evolving technology, taxonomic changes and newly discovered species. In a fast-moving digital and scientific world, this model ensures the app remains current and relevant.

Information fully loaded

The new Roberts app contains the same wealth of information about each species that we have become accustomed to. Each species profile is accompanied by the relevant text from the Roberts Bird Guide, covering identification, status, habitat, food, calls, breeding, nomenclature and measurements, as well as the more detailed text from the Roberts VII tome. This expanded text delves into everything from moult and movements to conservation, giving birders access to a treasure trove of information in a single tap. Having all this on a bird app is unmatched in a southern African context.