Date: 4/29/24 7:29 am From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Subject: Using Merlin to ID Birds
If you use Merlin like many of us do, this is important information to review. Merlin is a great learning tool ... but it's critical for us to confirm the species before submitting Merlin's suggestions to eBird. Here's why (from eBird):. https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48001185783-sound-id?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0rhBRHxwIj2KKNHf-7bd-lboXzIrXL1h6olpfI1cD3uxZB7Z-Rm68qC-E_aem_Ae898UN2WOOSAiFGWAb6dM_0szqrLVs8PlskyI6CCNUBOa-h04u3QOM7dX5bmag3SXs8OaXGed-sv3PxhntuFWw1When you confirm each species, you're truly learning about that species. So a few steps to consider: If Merlin suggests it, try to find it/see it. Is it the correct song or call or is Merlin simply giving a suggestion? If audio, what does the spectrograph look like and does it match the species? Are there other species that make similar notes? Is the habitat/range correct? And, most importantly, did you hear it/recognize it? Taking these steps will give you valuable tools to greatly improve your birding skills. Plus it will go a long way in keeping eBird data clean and keep your fellow birders from spending time and money chasing a bird that Merlin may have misidentified. 😉Patty McLean Conway and the Little Red River
