Why budding birders are flocking to Shazam-like apps to identify avians
Summary
Many people, especially younger ones, are using apps like Merlin Bird ID to identify birds by their looks or sounds. Developed by Cornell University, Merlin Bird ID has grown to recognize around 11,000 bird species and has been downloaded millions of times worldwide.Key Facts
- Megan Szostak, a bird enthusiast, uses Merlin Bird ID, an app that helps identify birds by sight and sound.
- Merlin Bird ID was created by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology and launched in 2014.
- The app has been downloaded 42 million times in total, with 12 million downloads in 2026 alone.
- It can identify about 11,000 bird species, which is nearly all the species known in the world.
- The app uses artificial intelligence (AI) and data from bird watchers globally to improve identification.
- Some experts warn not to rely fully on these apps for official bird sightings as they can make mistakes.
- Other bird identification apps, like Birda, are also seeing increased downloads recently.
- Younger people and Generation Z are becoming more interested in birdwatching, often sharing their experiences on social media.
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