private void searchJButtonActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {//GEN-FIRST:event_searchJButtonActionPerformed
        String searchStr = inputJTextField.getText();  
        String searchCriteria = (String) searchCriteriaJComboBox.getSelectedItem();
        
        infoJTextArea.setText(""); // clear the field
        pictureJLabel.setIcon(null);
        
        // if the genericComboBox is enabled 
        if(genericJComboBox.isEnabled()) 
            searchStr = (String) genericJComboBox.getSelectedItem();
        
        if(searchStr.equals("")) {
            JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Please enter valid input!",
                                         "Input Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
        }
        else {
            Search obj = new Search(searchStr, searchCriteria);
            // populate the drop down menu with
            birds = obj.readData();
            
            if(birds.isEmpty())
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "No bird matches the criteria!",
                                         "Bird not found", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);

            populateBirdsComboBox();
        }
    }//GEN-LAST:event_searchJButtonActionPerformed