Q: Do we send them the birding software?
A: No. That is done electronically by Thayer Birding Software. The students simply go to www.ThayerBirding.com, select the Mac or Windows download version, type in the special code PalomarYoungBirder, and the download instructions and links appear after a few seconds.
Q: Where can I learn more about the software before downloading.
Here is a link to reviews and feedback we have received over the years:
http://www.thayerbirding.com/Home/Reviews-of-Thayer-products
And here is a link we have to help folks that may have a question:
http://www.thayerbirding.com/Get-Help
This program requires Windows 7 or higher or Mac OSX 10.9 or higher.
Q: What do we tell students who are in college or grad school and may want a copy or students that want to get the software mailed to them on a USB flash drive rather than download it?
A: We have a special code for these situations. The code will let students buy the software at a 50% discount. The retail price for the download is $49.95. The USB flash drive is $63.95 (plus $5.95 shipping.) So they would pay half this amount. This special code is: Student. We strongly recommend the USB flash dive for students with computer download speeds below 20 Mbps.
Teachers can also get the software at a 50% discount. Their special code is: Teacher.
Test your computer’s download speed: http://speedtest.xfinity.com
Q: What is your ultimate goal in doing this?
A: We would like to have one million kids download the free birding program and use it and get excited about nature and conservation. Birds are a great place to start! Pete Thayer thinks getting an additional one million kids looking at birds and perhaps becoming the local bird expert will be good for the planet in the long run.
Q: When does the special code expire?
A: Probably when Pete Thayer does.
Q: How long have you been making birding software? Who are you?
A: Thayer Birding Software released version 1.0 of its software in December, 1994. There have been eleven major versions and 44 free updates since then. Version 7.7 was released in September, 2018: http://www.thayerbirding.com/Get-Help/Version-History
Thayer Birding Software is owned by Peter W. Thayer and his family. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology also owns 1% of the company. Here is a link to the “About Us” web page: http://www.thayerbirding.com/About-Us/More-About-Us. Basically, Pete Thayer is an enthusiastic birder whose hobby got WAY out of hand!