Date: 3/10/26 6:44 am
From: 'Rich Wolinski' via Birders <birders...>
Subject: Re: [birders] Merlin Problems
Merlin has weaknesses. I've found a number of times it doesn't pick up
birds close by and indicates are present though their habitat is not.
Unless I can verify the bird s present with my own senses I don't
count it. It's a tool under development and you would be wise to treat
it as such.
On Mar 10, 2026 8:52 AM, Bob Tarte <enslavedbyducks...> wrote:

Yesterday I was in Saranac, Ionia County, and ran into a small
flock of Rusty Blackbirds along the river. They were singing, but
when I checked Merlin to determine if I was missing any other
birds in the area, it was 'deaf' to the Rusties, no matter how
many times I tried. It found a Northern Cardinal and juncos. That
was it.
This winter, I had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at my feeder for
three weeks. It was 'meowing' loudly one morning, and just for fun
I tried Merlin. The bird didn't register at all.
I'm wondering if Merlin has a bias against out-of-season /
out-of-place birds... though the Rusties seem like they are here
about when they should be. Maybe a little early.
Has anyone else had this problem with Merlin? If so, what's the
fix? Thanks.
--Bob Tarte, Lowell, Kent County

--
Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
www.glc.org
Â
Messages and content distributed on Birders are the sole
responsibility of the subscriber providing such content and
do not reflect the views, policy or position of the Great Lakes
Commission.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Birders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
send an email to birders+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/CACRFGgM0W%3DLnaeb6GKd5ZHkW%<2BSjnbXtzK50ZLgzzT_7KQymeVg...>


--
Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
www.glc.org

Messages and content distributed on Birders are the sole
responsibility of the subscriber providing such content and
do not reflect the views, policy or position of the Great Lakes
Commission.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
Groups "Birders" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send
an email to birders+<unsubscribe...>
To view this discussion visit
https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<83b8f7f9-e85b-4311-868a-9ab182874414...>
 
Join us on Facebook!