What is field intelligence in birding?
The skills used before and during an encounter: predicting what's likely from habitat, season and region; reading structure and movement before color; and eliminating possibilities until one bird remains. Naming the species is the visible end of that process, not the whole of it.
How is Flyway different from a bird identification app?
Identification apps answer "what bird is this?" — useful, but the answer arrives without you. Flyway teaches you to answer "how did I know?", training the underlying skills on the birds actually being reported where you are, so the practice transfers to the field.
Do I need to know a lot about birds to start?
No. Flyway starts from the birds around you, which for most people is a short and forgiving list. Early drills ask for the kind of bird rather than the exact species, so you build structure and habitat sense before species names.
Why does Flyway use my location?
Because a species list only means something in a place and a season. A warbler common in a New Jersey woodlot in May is irrelevant on the California coast in December. Flyway pulls recent sightings near you and weights them by how often and how recently they've been reported.
Can I prepare for a specific trip or hotspot?
Yes — that's one of the best uses of it. Pick an eBird hotspot and drill the species currently being reported there, or check the odds on a bird you're hoping for before you go.
Is Flyway free?
Yes, and nothing is hidden behind an account. A free account is optional: it adds saved progress, your Field Intelligence score, tracking of the birds you miss, and leaderboards.
Is Flyway affiliated with eBird or the Cornell Lab of Ornithology?
No. Flyway is an independent educational project that uses public eBird data streams. It isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by eBird or the Cornell Lab.
