1. Introduction

Birdr ("we," "us," or "our") operates the Birdr website and mobile application (collectively, the "Service"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our Service.

By using the Service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access or use the Service.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

Account information: When you create an account, we collect your email address, username, and display name.
Profile information: You may optionally provide your location, skill level, and profile photo.
Sighting data: Bird observations you log, including species, location coordinates, date, time, and any notes you add.
Community content: Posts, comments, and other content you share through the community features.

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

Device information: Device type, operating system, browser type, and unique device identifiers.
Usage data: Pages visited, features used, time spent on the Service, and interaction patterns.
Location data: With your permission, we collect precise location data to show nearby bird sightings and hotspots. You can disable location access at any time through your device settings.
Log data: IP address, access times, and referring URLs.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

Authentication providers: If you sign in using Google or Apple, we receive your name, email address, and profile photo from those services.
eBird data: We use the eBird API to display bird observation data. We do not share your personal information with eBird.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
Create and manage your account
Display nearby bird sightings, hotspots, and rare bird alerts
Track your life list and birding statistics
Enable community features such as posting and following
Personalize your experience based on your skill level and location
Send you notifications about rare bird sightings (with your consent)
Respond to your support requests
Analyze usage patterns to improve the Service
Comply with legal obligations

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

Public profile and sightings: Your username, profile photo, and bird sightings you choose to make public are visible to other users.
Service providers: We share information with third-party service providers who help us operate the Service, including hosting (Vercel), database (Supabase), and analytics providers. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.
Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or government request.
Safety: We may disclose information to protect the rights, safety, or property of Birdr, our users, or the public.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide the Service. If you delete your account, we will delete your personal information within 30 days, except where we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes. Anonymized or aggregated data that cannot identify you may be retained indefinitely for analytical purposes.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including encryption of data in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest, secure authentication mechanisms, and row-level security on our database. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

Access the personal information we hold about you
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Delete your account and associated data
Export your data in a portable format
Opt out of marketing communications
Withdraw consent for location tracking at any time
Object to or restrict certain processing of your data

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at privacy@birdrapp.com.

8. Children's Privacy

The Service is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at privacy@birdrapp.com.

9. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have data protection laws that differ from the laws of your country. By using the Service, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries where our service providers operate. We take steps to ensure your data receives adequate protection in accordance with applicable law.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

The Service may contain links to third-party websites or services, including eBird, conservation partner organizations, and gear retailers. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the updated policy on this page and updating the effective date. Your continued use of the Service after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: privacy@birdrapp.com