Merlin Bird ID: How AI is Revolutionizing Birdwatching and boosting Mental Wellbeing
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A free app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is experiencing a surge in popularity, transforming how people connect with the natural world and offering surprising mental health benefits.
For many, identifying birdsong has long been a skill reserved for seasoned ornithologists. But a new wave of technology is democratizing the practise, bringing the joy of bird identification to millions worldwide. merlin Bird ID, a free app developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is at the forefront of this revolution, experiencing explosive growth and changing the way people experience nature.
from Confusion to Clarity: A Personal Change
The app’s impact is perhaps best illustrated by personal stories. Natasha Walter, a writer and human rights activist, initially struggled to differentiate between common bird species. “I’m obsessed with Merlin – it’s wonderful and it’s been a joy to me,” she says. “This is what AI and machine-learning have been invented for. It’s the one good thing!” Walter recounts how the app quickly corrected a fundamental misunderstanding, revealing that birds she believed were female blackbirds were, in fact, song thrushes and mistle thrushes – a humbling realization for a budding birder.
Merlin’s success isn’t just anecdotal. The app has been downloaded 33 million times in 240 countries and is available in 36 languages. It utilizes sound recordings from the Cornell Lab’s Macaulay Library, a vast archive of animal sounds, to identify birds based on their songs and calls. The app offers several identification tools, including sound ID, photo ID, and a guided ID feature that asks users a series of questions about the bird they’ve seen.
A traveler’s Companion and a Tool for Experts
Merlin’s utility extends beyond the backyard. The app’s ability to adapt to different geographic locations makes it invaluable for travelers. assistance. Mary Novakovich, an author, found Merlin notably useful while traveling in Croatia, connecting her to the local avian life.
Imperfections and the Importance of Human Expertise
Despite it’s impressive capabilities, Merlin isn’t infallible. A 12-year-old birder, Kasper Wall, discovered the app initially identified North American species – northern cardinals and brown-headed cowbirds – while in his Norfolk garden. Wall, now a learned birder, acknowledges the app’s limitations but still finds it a valuable tool. He even enjoys playfully “fooling” Merlin with his impressions of various bird calls.
Experienced naturalists echo this sentiment. Nick Acheson, a renowned bird call expert, doesn’t use Merlin himself, but welcomes its ability to engage more people with nature. Though, he cautions against relying on the app to the detriment of genuine learning. “Anything that gets people out, thinking about and reacting to nature is a great thing,” he says, “But there’s certainly a risk that people don’t learn and just abdicate obligation for learning to Merlin.” Acheson notes a recurring glitch where Merlin misinterprets chaffinch calls as those of a redstart, potentially leading to false sightings of rare birds. “There’s no substitute for a real person explaining to you how a birdsong feels and encouraging someone to engage with it emotionally,” he emphasizes.
john Williamson, a guide for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, has observed similar inaccuracies, with Merlin frequently identifying spotted flycatchers in unsuitable habitats. He also suspects the app misinterprets jay calls as those of a golden oriole, a rare migrant. Despite these shortcomings,williamson recognizes Merlin as a “good tool” that encourages new people to enjoy birdsong.
Beyond Birding: A Boon for mental health
The benefits of Merlin extend beyond simply identifying birds. Williamson shares the story of someone struggling with acute anxiety who found solace and a calming focus through using the app to connect with nature. This aligns with growing research demonstrating the positive impact of birdsong on mental health and overall wellbeing.
Walter succinctly captures the app’s broader impact: “It reminds you that there are birds knitted into your daily life. it’s not about, ‘now I’m going to do a bit of birdwatching’, you may simply be walking through the park and you hear something and it gives you a sense that these birds are singing away all the time, even in London.” Merlin, it seems, is not just identifying birds – it’s helping people rediscover the natural world around them, one song at a time.
