Backup and Restore the Database

Backing up the database

Detection data is stored in an SQLite database called 'birds.db in the 'scripts' directory. At any time, you can download a copy (create a backup) of the database using the "Tools" > "File Manager" tool.

To download the database to your laptop, PC, smartphone, or tablet:

1. Go to "Tools"
2. "File Manager"
3. Click the 'scripts' directory
4. Select the database
5. And finally, choose to download the database using the buttons to the right

Note: here are some other files and directories you may want to backup.

~/BirdNET-Pi/birdnet.conf
~/BirdNET-Pi/apprise.txt
~/BirdNET-Pi/scripts/birds.db
~/BirdSongs/Extracted/By_Date
~/BirdSongs/Extracted/Charts

Restoring the database

Unfortunately, there is a bug in the "File Manager" that does not properly upload files. The current solution is to either use the command line (Linux and macOS users) or WinSCP (Windows users).Update: I found the bug and will have this fixed soon!

Linux and macOS users

To restore a database from a backed-up birds.db database:

scp /$HOME/Downloads/birds.db pi@birdnetpi.local:/home/pi/BirdNET-Pi/scripts/birds.db

Windows Users

1. WinSCP will open with a login prompt. Enter the hostname of your pi, its username and password. and click Login.
   

2. If it's your first time connecting to the host it'll present a warning. Click yes.
   

3. The left side is your PC's directory and the right is your Pi's. On the Pi side, open the BirdNET-Pi directory
   

4. Open the scripts directory and find birds.db
   

5. Click and drag or copy/paste birds.db from your PC's directory to your Pi side.