GPS Kids | Jake’s Journal: Using BirdsEye Satellite Imagery on your Garmin handheld

Recently, my good friend Brad the Engineer took a few minutes to walk me through BirdsEye Satellite Imagery, an annual subscription service that gives users the option of loading highly-detailed photo-based maps to select Garmin handhelds. My first step was to check for the latest software update on my Oregon (BirdsEye works with Dakota and Colorado as well). Then I made sure I had the most recent version of Basecamp, Garmin’s free software for viewing and organizing maps, waypoints, routes, and tracks
and sending them to my Garmin handheld. Then we let the cameras roll as Brad (and the BirdsEye software’s wizard) quickly walked me through the simple steps.

So why BirdsEye? Hunters can easily identify potential tree stand locations, draws, and natural game funnels. Hikers can quickly locate trailheads, campsites, and scenic vistas. Geocachers can better assess terrain difficulty and parking areas close to caches. Even tourists and travelers can navigate amusement parks or historical battlefields like never before.

As you’ll see in the video, the images are among the most highly-detailed available – offering 0.5 meter per pixel resolution in many areas of the United States. Users can also view imagery at every zoom level – from 12 miles to 20 feet – unlike other offerings that force users to stay at pre-determined zoom levels. BirdsEye Satellite Imagery also lets users overlay vector maps, to get a better idea of terrain contours and points of interest.

To learn more about BirdsEye, visit www.garmin.com/birdseyesatimagery. For more information about Garmin’s outdoor products and other mapping options, check out http://garmin.com/onthetrail. See you out on the trails!

Leave a Reply