Privacy policy
Vogeltrek Radar has no account or ads. We do not use our own behavioural analytics or advertising tracking. The Android map and messaging services process technical data as described below.
Data we process
- Location. A chosen place or one-time GPS position is sent to our server to retrieve the local signal. For ordinary signal requests, we use the coordinates only to calculate the response: we don't store them or build a location history. The app doesn't track you in the background.
- Notifications. If enabled, we store an installation ID, encrypted device token, chosen coordinates, language, threshold and night-report preference. We delete the registration when the server receives your deletion request, for example after you disable notifications inside the app. Uninstalling the app or blocking notifications in phone settings does not immediately remove the server registration.
- Subscriptions. Apple or Google handles payment. To protect Plus, the app temporarily sends an Apple-signed transaction or Google Play purchase token to our server. We use it to request the current store status and do not retain the proof. We do not receive payment, name or address details. For a Plus notification preference, we retain only the verified entitlement end date.
- Web app (app.flocksignal.com). The web app works without an account and without cookies, apart from one language cookie that only remembers your language choice. Your browser keeps your chosen place itself; only the coordinates of a signal request reach us, just as in the app. Your browser loads map backgrounds directly from OpenFreeMap. Suggestions while you type come from Photon by komoot; searching with Enter and naming your location use Nominatim by the OpenStreetMap Foundation. Those services see your IP address, your search term when you search, and the coordinates when you use "Use my current location", to find a place name. The web app first rounds your location to about one kilometre.
- Technical logs. Operational and error logs keep the service reliable. Location query parameters, installation IDs, purchase proofs and client IP addresses aren't retained in the access logs of our API and its proxy.
- Launch updates. If you sign up on the website, we store your email address and language choice with your consent. We use them only for product and launch updates. You can withdraw your consent by emailing us.
Google services in the Android app
The map uses Google Maps. Google receives map requests, including the map area, and collects device and SDK metadata, IP addresses (which can indicate an approximate location), a pseudonymous Maps SDK identifier, crash information and map interactions such as panning and zooming. Google uses this information to provide, maintain and improve its services. Place searches and reverse geocoding use Android's location-name service; the device's provider receives the search term or coordinates needed to answer the request. We do not keep a search history.
Firebase Cloud Messaging uses an installation identifier and technical app information to deliver Android notifications. Its SDK can create this identifier automatically, even before you enable notifications. We only register your notification preferences and device token on our own server when you enable notifications. We do not use Firebase Analytics or an advertising identifier.
Google's own retention and deletion rules apply to data it processes through its services. See the Google Privacy Policy, Maps SDK data disclosure and Firebase privacy information. Data is encrypted in transit. Choosing a place manually avoids granting location permission, but does not disable the map's technical data collection.
Processors and retention
OVH hosts the server in Frankfurt; Apple and Google verify subscriptions and deliver notifications; Netlify hosts this site and the web app and processes the site's signup form. Notification registrations last until the server receives a deletion request, radar images are retained for seven days, and email signups until launch updates are complete or you request deletion sooner. Technical API and proxy logs rotate automatically, with at most three files of 10 MB per service; retention time depends on log volume.
Your rights and contact
Lodevane, a sole proprietorship in the Netherlands (Chamber of Commerce number 42144638), is the controller responsible for personal data processed through Vogeltrek Radar and this website.
You can disable notifications inside the app to request deletion of the registration. For access, correction, deletion or privacy questions email privacy@flocksignal.com. For app help email support@flocksignal.com.