Kindle Fire and Birding: Well, Maybe

I have been enjoying using and exploring a Kindle Fire tablet since it emerged from under the old Christmas tree just over seven weeks ago.  It's a pretty good reader and a generally acceptable web surfer, but I am not convinced this is a field device for birders.  Certainly not yet.

For one, it's not that portable.  It fits into coat pockets, but in the field small is gold, and my iPod Touch delivers extreme portability.  Same for (#2) applications.  iPod Touch delivers quite a pile of birding apps, be it BirdJam, iBird, BirdBeat, whatever.  I found iBird Pro for Kindle, but that's really about it.  Third, the Kindle is a sittin'-down-and-consuming media device.  And in the field we need that which can accept data readily.  I can do that with iPod.  With Fire, not so much. 

In time I'll likely try to pop some digital field guides up on the Fire once they become available.  I didn't find much in this area, but I am patient.  And in time the Fire will join the team as my field guide for later reference, able to carry a library compactly.  The iPod will come with me on the trail (as it has done so) where it is strongest.