More than half of the world’s raptor species have declining populations and nearly 20% are threatened with extinction. The need to monitor raptors and understand the threats they face is therefore as pressing now as ever. The Global Raptor Impact Network (GRIN) was created by expanding the African Raptor DataBank globally and combining it with The Peregrine Fund’s Global Raptor Information Network—all in an effort to monitor and conserve the world’s raptors. GRIN gives raptor researchers tools to more efficiently conduct their own studies while contributing to a global program. GRIN also provides citizen scientists a way to participate in raptor science and conservation.

The GRIN app is a free tool that allows professional and citizen scientists to collect raptor data on their mobile device. Observations including sightings, nest productivity, mortality, re-sightings, museum specimens, etc. can be collected using the GRIN app. Thus, raptor researchers can conduct studies directly in the field with their mobile devices, removing the need for tedious data entry once they’re home or in the office.

Features of the GRIN app include:

Data upload via cellular or wifi connection
Secure storage in the GRIN DataBank
A global raptor species list that can be filtered by biological realm
Flexibility to collect either simple sighting records or complex survey results
Data export via mobile device
Multiple built-in survey types and automatic logging of survey effort