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Original poster

To tell you about the Merlin app - Shazam for birds?

399 replies

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 19/05/2023 12:35

I have just discovered an app which identifies birds by sound and appearance.
In two days I’ve become addicted to listening to various bird song at different times of day.

From my garden I’ve heard over a dozen different birds from robins to coots and collared doves, jackdaws and great tits.

It’s just so lovely to take a few minutes out of the day and just listen to the sounds around us.

My DD is currently travelling through Bulgaria on her way to Turkey and I’m hoping she will install the app too.

Sadly this app is nothing to do with me , I wish I could have invented it. I’ve no skin in the birdsong game. I just wanted to share it as it’s difficult to find little minutes of peace throughout the day and this app does that for me.

Im in suburban/edge of green belt Hertfordshire and I’d love to hear what other mnetters hear too. Particularly ones outside the Uk.

thread title edited by MNHQ at OP's request.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
21
efeslight · 20/05/2023 07:49

Thanks, this sounds great

Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 07:50

AnxiousShep · 20/05/2023 07:17

Thank you @HoofWankingSpangleCunt

You have made someone who was feeling quite low so much brighter.
I have nothing hugely exciting in my garden but I love them anyway. I had forgotten to stop and listen.
I also hadn’t realised just how beautiful a blackbird sounds.

(unmumsnetty hugs)

this is exactly why I started this thread. I hope you feel brighter soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 07:51

bruffin · 20/05/2023 07:15

I use bird net which run by Cornell university

I think Birdnet is the precursor to the Merlin app

OP posts:
Bowednotbroken · 20/05/2023 07:53

I've had it a couple of months now - totally addictive! Found so many birds in my garden I hadn't actually seen (lots of big trees to hide in). I use it a lot!

CrepuscularCritter · 20/05/2023 07:53

So...at 4am there were robins, blackbirds, great tits, coal tits, blue tits, sparrows, bullfinches and wrens. I was a bit too slow starting the app to catch the owl. Thanks again, OP, this is magic.

Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 07:54

I’ve renamed all the blackbirds near me . I now have several Eileens singing about how they want a shag and about the big worm found in a compost heap.

(Next app, bird song translation 😀)

OP posts:
bruffin · 20/05/2023 07:55

I looked I do have Merlin as well, but I like bird net as it is quick to use for bird song

Modda · 20/05/2023 07:55

There's loads, which app is it please? I get random ones when I search

Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 07:55

CrepuscularCritter · 20/05/2023 07:53

So...at 4am there were robins, blackbirds, great tits, coal tits, blue tits, sparrows, bullfinches and wrens. I was a bit too slow starting the app to catch the owl. Thanks again, OP, this is magic.

First person to hear an owl gets 50p.

OP posts:
Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 07:56

Modda · 20/05/2023 07:55

There's loads, which app is it please? I get random ones when I search

Sorry, it’s not terribly clear from my amended title.

it’s called Merlin and is produced by Cornel Labs

OP posts:
larkstar · 20/05/2023 07:57

@BeverlyBrook I've also been using BirdNET which is excellent as it logs your location from your GPS and it saves your recording (so you can listen to it again) and saves the bird identification with a measure of how strongly the bird was identified - the app was produced by Cornell university.

To tell you about the Merlin app - Shazam for birds?
askan · 20/05/2023 08:00

I hear owls most nights, but never know what type if they're shrieking rather than hooting. I've seen tawnies, barn owls and little owls nearby - do they all do the shrieky thing? Don't know whether Merlin would recognise a shriek!

OldTinHat · 20/05/2023 08:02

I have a similar app. When I brought in the washing yesterday, it told me I have sparrows, starlings, gold finch, blackbirds and wood pigeons in the garden.

larkstar · 20/05/2023 08:05

Merlin is also from Cornell University - I'll try it out - thanks for posting @OP

Mammyofonlyone · 20/05/2023 08:10

I'm in the north of England and was just listening to what I'm fairly sure are the sparrows nesting in my roof. I just tested the app and it said they are black vultures....!

LizzieSiddal · 20/05/2023 08:25

Thank you so much for the recommendation. Cannot wait to downloaded.

redspottedmug · 20/05/2023 08:26

I discovered the app recently.
Just listened from my bedroom window for 10 minutes and heard 12 birds.
Wren
Blackbird
Magpie
Great tit
Blue tit
House sparrow
Robin
Greenfinch
Coal tit
Goldfinch
Wood pigeon
Dunnock

redspottedmug · 20/05/2023 08:27

50p for an owl? Will listen out at dusk!

Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 08:47

Mammyofonlyone · 20/05/2023 08:10

I'm in the north of England and was just listening to what I'm fairly sure are the sparrows nesting in my roof. I just tested the app and it said they are black vultures....!

Well that’s exciting (refusing to accept app is wrong)

How many vultures are in your chimney ?

😀😀

OP posts:
Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 08:50

redspottedmug · 20/05/2023 08:27

50p for an owl? Will listen out at dusk!

Proof required of course.

I know what you lot are like 😀

OP posts:
Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 08:53

After reading that article I’d like to extend an invitation to Mrs Long Suffering Dowling to join the thread.

He can bog off though, we don’t need that sort of negativity.

OP posts:
Original poster
HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 20/05/2023 08:54

LizzieSiddal · 20/05/2023 08:25

Thank you so much for the recommendation. Cannot wait to downloaded.

I like your username

OP posts:
5foot5 · 20/05/2023 08:58

Sounds better than the app we downloaded during lock down. Can't remember what that was called but we took it on one of our walks and it insisted everything was a Robin, even when it was blatantly obvious it was a Canada Goose

Lucanus · 20/05/2023 09:03

@EpicChaos Please don't encourage people to feed the birds, it's a damaging activity which is contributing to declines in our rarer species (because they get outcompeted by increased numbers of the conmon species people are feeding).

Feeders also encourage non-native invasive species such as Grey Squirrels and Ring-necked Parakeets, and increase transmission of serious diseases including trichomonosis which has been devastating populations of Greeenfinches and Chaffinches.

Improving the habitat quality is a much better way to support garden birds and will benefit a wide range of other wildlife too.