Date: 3/10/26 9:27 am From: 'Rich Wolinski' via Birders <birders...> Subject: Re: [birders] Merlin Problems
Agreed. I use it in a similar fashion. My wife uses it to check on my ID skills. On Mar 10, 2026 11:10 AM, Bob Tarte <enslavedbyducks...> wrote:
Sorry, didn't mean to send that last message to the group. On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 11:02 AM Bob Tarte <enslavedbyducks...> wrote:
Hi, Lisa, My wife died last May from a terrible illness that was very much like ALS. I took care of her at home for a year, then she had to go into a nursing home. I visited her twice a day, feeding her lunch and dinner.
I just started writing again and have three different projects in various states of completion. Not many pets now. Thanks so much for asking. -- Bob Tarte, Lowell, Kent County On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:50 AM Lisa Lava-Kellar <lisalk...> wrote:
I agree with your assessment, Bob, and I'm not half the birder you are! But I still love it. Are you still writing? Do you and your wife still have the menagerie of animals? Haven't "seen" you on Birders for a while, so thought I'd check. All the best,Lisa L-K On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 10:14 AM Bob Tarte <enslavedbyducks...> wrote:
Thanks, Rich. I've been birding for decades and don't count a bird unless I see and/or hear it and ID it based on what my own senses are telling me. If Merlin alerts me to a bird I'm not hearing, often, if I keep walking, I will start hearing it on my own. Or I'll stand still and listen harder! It's a great tool when used like that. --Bob Tarte, Lowell, Kent County On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 9:44 AM Rich Wolinski <rawolinski...> wrote:
Merlin has weaknesses. I've found a number of times it doesn't pick up birds close by and indicates are present though their habitat is not. Unless I can verify the bird s present with my own senses I don't count it. It's a tool under development and you would be wise to treat it as such. On Mar 10, 2026 8:52 AM, Bob Tarte <enslavedbyducks...> wrote:
Yesterday I was in Saranac, Ionia County, and ran into a small flock of Rusty Blackbirds along the river. They were singing, but when I checked Merlin to determine if I was missing any other birds in the area, it was 'deaf' to the Rusties, no matter how many times I tried. It found a Northern Cardinal and juncos. That was it. This winter, I had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at my feeder for three weeks. It was 'meowing' loudly one morning, and just for fun I tried Merlin. The bird didn't register at all. I'm wondering if Merlin has a bias against out-of-season / out-of-place birds... though the Rusties seem like they are here about when they should be. Maybe a little early. Has anyone else had this problem with Merlin? If so, what's the fix? Thanks. --Bob Tarte, Lowell, Kent County
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