Key facts
- The Merlin bird identification app will integrate with the eBird global database to collect bird species detections.
- This integration aims to aid conservation efforts by monitoring bird populations and informing ecological management.
- The Merlin app uses machine learning to identify birdsong and images, with over 40 million downloads worldwide.
- eBird, run by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, is one of the world's largest citizen-science biodiversity projects with over 2 billion records.
- While praised for connecting people with nature, concerns remain about the app's accuracy in bird identification.
The Merlin bird identification app is set to enhance its contribution to global biodiversity efforts by automatically feeding user-recorded bird detections into the eBird database. This move is anticipated to bolster conservation initiatives by providing more comprehensive data for monitoring bird populations and informing ecological management strategies.
The free Merlin app, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, utilizes machine learning to offer near-instantaneous identification of birdsong and images. Since 2021, it has been a popular tool for bird enthusiasts. The forthcoming update will enable automatic uploads of species detections to eBird, a platform that has already amassed over 2 billion bird observation records since its inception in 2002.
In the UK, where bird populations have seen a significant decline over the past 50 years, the Merlin app has gained substantial traction, with nearly 2 million users in May alone. The app identifies birds by analyzing the distinct patterns birdsong makes on spectrograms. Cornell also operates the eBird platform, a major environmental science initiative built on citizen science.
Jessie Barry, a leader on the Merlin project, explained that future developments will strengthen the connection to eBird systems, allowing for better population monitoring through auditory data. The app currently identifies 2,066 species, with ongoing efforts to expand its capabilities and improve model performance. Globally, the app has been downloaded over 40 million times across 240 countries, with the UK being the second-largest user base.
While the app is lauded for its ability to connect people with nature and potentially boost conservation awareness, some concerns have been raised regarding its accuracy. The European Bird Census Council advises against using Merlin for official breeding bird surveys due to potential misidentifications. Professor Richard Gregory of the RSPB acknowledged the app's positive impact on public engagement but also pointed out instances of incorrect identifications, such as mistaking a dachshund for a mallard. He noted that without expertise, users might not recognize these errors, posing a challenge when the data is used for conservation purposes. Barry indicated that research teams would address data quality challenges, emphasizing that increased data collection, even with potential inaccuracies, is more beneficial for understanding population changes than no data at all.