Data Processing Documentation

Last Updated: December 22, 2025

This document provides technical information about how BirdTab processes data, intended for regulatory compliance and transparency.

1. Data Flow Overview

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                        USER'S BROWSER                           │
│  ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│
│  │                    BirdTab Extension                        ││
│  │  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐  ┌──────────────┐      ││
│  │  │   Settings   │  │  Bird Data   │  │  Diagnostics │      ││
│  │  │  (Local)     │  │  (Fetched)   │  │  (Sentry)    │      ││
│  │  └──────┬───────┘  └──────┬───────┘  └──────┬───────┘      ││
│  └─────────┼─────────────────┼─────────────────┼───────────────┘│
└────────────┼─────────────────┼─────────────────┼────────────────┘
             │                 │                 │
             ▼                 ▼                 ▼
    ┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐ ┌────────────────┐
    │ Browser Storage│ │ BirdTab API    │ │ Sentry.io      │
    │ (Local/Sync)   │ │ + Macaulay Lib │ │ (US Region)    │
    └────────────────┘ └────────────────┘ └────────────────┘

2. Local Storage Data

User preferences and cached data are stored locally in the browser using the Storage API. This includes region preference, audio settings, and cached bird data.

Retention: Until user clears data or uninstalls the extension.

3. External Services

BirdTab API

A read-only API that provides bird species data based on your selected region. Only the region code is sent; no personal data is transmitted.

Macaulay Library

Bird images and audio are fetched from Cornell Lab's Macaulay Library using species codes. No personal data is shared.

Sentry.io (Error Tracking)

Anonymous error reports are sent to Sentry.io to help us identify and fix bugs. This includes:

Error messages and stack traces
Extension version and browser info
Selected region (for debugging)

Not collected: IP addresses (anonymized), browsing history, personal identifiers, or any website content.

4. Data Retention

Data Type	Retention	Location
User settings	Until uninstall	Your device
Bird cache	7 days	Your device
Error reports	30 days	Sentry.io (US)

5. Data Security

All network requests use HTTPS/TLS
Local data is encrypted by the browser
No sensitive data is transmitted

6. Your Rights

Access: View your data via browser DevTools
Deletion: Uninstall the extension to remove all local data
Opt-out: Disable the extension to stop all data collection

7. Compliance

BirdTab is designed with privacy in mind:

GDPR: Minimal data collection, no personal data processing
CCPA: No sale of personal information
Browser Web Store: Compliant with developer policies

8. Contact

For data-related inquiries:

Email: support@birdtab.app