Do You Use the Merlin App?
I live in Texas where February can be pretty warm, beautiful, and bright. One pleasant February day, I set out for my morning walk and became overwhelmed by the lovely chorus of bird song along Teaff Street. I’m no birder, so I quickly pulled out my phone and opened my Merlin Bird ID app. Here is a screenshot of all the birds it registered. I couldn't fit the Northern Cardinal in my screenshot, but I drew it in my sketchbook. (See below)
Merlin is the free bird ID app sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and it’s so easy to use. Their mission is to help people everywhere easily and quickly answer the question: What’s that bird? After opening the app, choose between identifying birds by sight or sound. Merlin will run you through several prompts with multiple-choice questions such as the bird size, where it was seen, and coloring. To identify the birds by sound, hit the record button, and the birds singing close by will pop up. You can also replay the recording to listen to their sounds. Here is a link with more information on the Merlin app and all the wonderful ways Cornell Lab supports birders everywhere.
I’m thinking a lot about birds this month because I entered an art challenge, Birdtober, where I have been painting the bird of the day for the month of October. You can see all my bird paintings posted on my Instagram account. It took me a while, but I eventually added all eight birds to my nature journal. I didn’t feel like I needed to make detailed drawings of the birds, but just enough of a quick sketch to remember that beautiful day.
Do you use the Merlin app? Send me a note and let me know.
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