The Merlin Bird ID app has learned to recognize more than 6,000 species of birds by their photos and calls
The free Merlin Bird ID mobile app has learned to identify more than 6,000 species of birds on six continents by their photos, songs and calls, potentially saving their populations. This is reported by CBS News.
“The idea for this app came from just wanting to help people answer the simple question, what’s that bird I’m seeing? Because you might be outside, or you look in the backyard and you’re like, Hey, what is that?” explained Jesse Barry, program manager of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University.
The first versions of the application were launched in 2014. At that time, users were able to recognize up to 400 species of North American birds. In addition to identification, the application allows you to create a digital album of found birds and informs scientists about how climate change affects the migratory routes of animals.
“Birds are really important because they are indicators of environmental health; basically, what’s good for birds is good for humans,” Jesse Barry emphasized. “They’re helping us understand the health of the planet. Right now, all the indicators are pointing to bird populations declining. And so, that’s a really critical warning sign for us right now.”
Alabama-based wildlife photographer Lisa Moates Smith praised the app’s performance.
“Being a wildlife photographer, it’s very nice to be able to look up a particular bird so that I can identify that bird on my website when I post my photographs. I absolutely fell in love with it,” she said.
We will remind that Colossal Biosciences previously announced its intentions to resurrect and tame the dodo, a flightless bird that became a symbol of extinction after it was wiped out by human activity on its home island of Mauritius.