The Hand of Merlin for android instal1/25/2024 ![]() ![]() I can’t fault the Ai or algorithm for the percentage though since the local bird species here can have their own dialect and generational “slang” that can be confusing. Birding by ear is a thing in this part of the world and I’d say it’s been correct between sixty to seventy percent of the time. Lately we’ve been using it almost every day here in Costa Rica. Does having a better quality external microphone help? Would a simple 'dish' attachment help with directionality? However, although the Merlin app usually seems to ID bird song accurately, it can be strangely selective in what it chooses to hear since at times, whilst it alerts me to birds I can't hear, it has ignored species vocalising that even I can still clearly detect. For me, it is now a vital tool for detecting the presence of Treecreepers, Goldcrests and Firecrests and then to put in time to actually see them (although working out from which direction the sounds coming from is still tricky). This encouraged me to scrutinise nearby brambles more closely than I might otherwise have done leading me to find a half-concealed Whitethroat. For example, I was out this morning using the app when it alerted me to the presence of Whitethroat (which I couldn't hear). I now have poor hearing so using the app is very good for alerting me to what birds are present in an area. ![]() It's easy to forget how much we bird by ear. ![]()
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