Remember the various Audobon Nature Guides? The books that detailed every type of bird, mammal, tree, or flower? Well, the Audobon Society has went and gone mobile. Now you can just whip out your iPhone to be one with nature. Not only can you access the most comprehensive information about the natural world right at your fingertips, you can take advantage of the the iPhone’s GPS and interactive features to make the most of your outings — and share the experience with friends and family.

The next time you go for a hike or take the kids camping, you can whip out your iPhone to drop some nature-knowledge. Since it’s coming from your iPhone, it’ll also earn the “cool” factor. Interested? Hit the jump to see more app details and the full press release.

Audubon Guides Go Mobile, Put Nature at Users’ Fingertips

Field guides to Birds, Wildflowers, Trees and Mammals now available on iPhone and iPod Touch, more nature subjects to come.

Woodstock, Vt. (Nov. 19, 2009) – The best-selling series of National Audubon Society field guide books have gone mobile, putting the most authoritative and comprehensive information about the natural world at the fingertips of iPhone and iPodTouch users.

The first four Audubon Guide apps in the new series – North American guides to Birds, Wildflowers, Trees and Mammals – are now available in the reference section of the apps store in iTunes.  The apps provide a wealth of interactive information in a mobile package, giving nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts a fun and exciting experience that makes outings richer, more informed and instantly sharable.

“Mobile platforms allow field guides to explore nature in more fun and interactive ways than they ever could before,” said Andrew Stewart, publisher of Green Mountain Digital, the electronic publishing company that created the Audubon Guide apps in alliance with the National Audubon Society.  “Features like bird calls, GPS-location and the ability to share outings with family and friends are just finger taps away.  These new apps transform field guides as we know them.”

Audubon Guide apps use updated and expanded content from the authoritative National Audubon Society guide books to cover thousands of species.  Features include more than 8,000 professional color photos, 2,300 bird sounds, thousands of range maps, and in-depth species descriptions with updated information about behavior, habitat, and the natural history of families and species.

All of this is wirelessly accessible in real time through elegant, interactive and intuitive search features.  Search parameters include common and scientific names, family, shape, range, habitat, color, and size.

“This is a giant leap forward in connecting people with the nature that surrounds them,” said John Flicker, president of the National Audubon Society.  ”And it’s the first step in building a commitment to protecting the wonders these apps will help a new generation discover and savor.”

The apps’ geo-location search features also allow users to find which species are located where they are, or in any other zip code, state or region. A universal dashboard enables navigation back and forth between species information, search functions, sightings, and more.  When loaded onto a user’s iPhone, the apps work independently of cell phone connectivity.

Other innovative functions include the ability to create personalized life lists, post GPS-enabled sighting lists, and upload user-created photo albums.

The apps are supported by AudubonGuides.com, a free companion Web site that syncs with the apps.  The Web site features all of the comprehensive subject matter found on the apps, as well as scientific news, user forums, articles and blog posts contributed by nationally recognized scientists and naturalists.

“The Web site really adds to the overall Audubon Guide app user experience because it includes all of the information contained in the apps as well as contributions by app users themselves,” said Stewart.  “As people share their outdoor experiences on the site, we’ll see it becoming an increasingly useful tool in the research and cataloging of the natural world.”

The four initial apps are now available at introductory prices in Apple’s iTunes store.  The limited-time-only prices are $19.99 for Birds and $9.99 each for Wildflowers, Trees and Mammals.

Birds, Wildflowers, Trees and Mammals will be followed in the next few months by mobile guides to Insects & Spiders, Butterflies, Fish, Reptiles & Amphibians, Seashells, Seashore Creatures, Mushrooms, Whales & Dolphins, and many other subjects.  In this way, the Audubon Guide app series looks to deliver all of nature to peoples’ fingertips.

Check out the full lineup of Audobon applications right here via iTunes.

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