Welcome to the Australasian Bird Image Database (ABID)!

With the advent of the Internet and digital cameras, more and more birders are using their equipment to "Digiscope" birds. I have therefore initiated this project to exhibit these images, as well as conventional photos.

The geographic area of interest is a fairly arbitrary one, chosen and given to me by Denis Lepage of Birdlife International. Australasia is defined as including Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The exclusion of Fiji and Irian Jaya is not uncontentious. The species checklist can be found here (with map of Oceania which includes Australasia). A similar project by the Oriental Bird Club the OBC Image Database covers the Asian region, with little overlap in the species covered.
The taxonomic order is based on Sibley and Monroe (1990). There are over 1500 species. Creating too many family/group categories on the database would slow the performance on the web to an unacceptable level, so I have opted for some brevity here and not included all categories. Basically, this is an exhibition of images and not a taxonomic resource.
In order to simply view images, there is no requirement to register, although some of the functions, such as 'album' or 'download', will not then be available.

Tip: Use the drop-down list at the foot of the portal to find species.

To upload images you will need to register as a 'user', and I will need to confirm your registration. (Please allow 24 hours for this transaction.....I check email every day but I'm not always using my PC!) Once I have confirmed your registration, you will be able to upload images. However, I am required to validate them before they are exhibited in public, which gives me the opportunity to correct text, check ID etc.
As the hosting space is fairly limited, image files submitted should be smaller than 100kb, and no image wider or higher than 500 pixels (at a resolution of 72 dots per inch). Thumbnails should be no more than 100 pixels.
Please try to put each species in its correct category, (e.g. Spotted Pardalote in Spotted Pardalote not Pardalotidae).
If images of a species type or plumage already exist on the ABID, e.g. male Regent Bowerbird, please try not to put on too many repeats, otherwise we will soon reach the hosting space limit. If you have a species type or plumage not already represented, such as female, male in non-breeding attire, or a different race, please do upload those.
ABID is intended as a non-commercial resource, though contributors may include links from the images to their own web-sites.
I have initiated the database with many pictures of my own and other photographers. I hope that further contributors will upload their own photos and details. However, if you have images which you would like to display, but don't have the resources to edit them, add text or upload, I would be only too pleased to help. Please contact me on the email address below. I will show lesser quality images where no others are available, but please check those already displayed to get an idea of what is required.
The software used 4images - Image Gallery Management System is free for private and non-commercial use and very easy to use. I would like to thank all at 4images for their assistance in setting up the database. I would also like to thank everyone whose images and references I have used in collating this resource.
Please respect copyright and do not use the contributors' images without their permission.
I hope you find the database as exciting and useful as I did while setting it up!