Date: 7/10/25 9:56 am From: David Chapman <dchapman1245...> Subject: Merlin
Joe Neal’s post regarding his interest in how birders utilize Merlin prompts this reply. As a long-time birder, I would, without hesitation say that Merlin is the greatest boon for birders since the Introduction of guidebooks. This is particularly true to those of us who have lost our hearing. In my case, I have been deaf in one ear for over 25 years and have slowly been losing hearing in the other. More recently, I have qualified for and received a cochlear implant. I can now hear birds, but they sound different, and I am doing my best to relearn at least the common species. How then do I use Merlin? If I hear or see a bird, I use Merlin to listen and confirm its presence. Often Merlin will tell me that other species are also present which prompts me to look more carefully. In my opinion, Merlin only occasionally gets things wrong. Thus, Merlin has enabled me to continue my hobby which for the hearing impaired is so valuable.
David Chapman
