Date: 4/19/26 6:04 am From: Michael Cavanaugh via groups.io <michaelcav...> Subject: [labird] Merlin and AI
Friends, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this (because I didn't read every post), but I went to AI and asked it what Merlin is most likely to err on for individual birds. For example I frequently get a hit for Common Yellowthroat in my yard, and AI explained that, at any distance, AI might think a Carolina Wren is a Common Yellowthroat (I think it was). Which prompts me to wonder if Merlin itself has information as to what errors are most common for what birds in what locations? Michael
In a message dated 4/19/2026 5:12:33 AM Central Daylight Time, <chazbizz91...> writes:
Well I'll take a slightly contrarian view and say I've enjoyed sorting outthe rights, wrongs and maybes of what Merlin reports. On a recent visit tothe Central sports park Merlin reported three species that would have beenfirsts for the site: limpkin, mallard and eastern meadowlark. Limpkin andmeadowlark were both realistic albeit longshot possibilities given thehabitat. But neither could be found after a close check of that habitat.So I concluded that known multilingual species, numerous in the area(starlings, blue jays, mockingbirds etc) must have been the source of themisidentified calls. Charles W On Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:13 PM Paul Conover via groups.io <zoiseaux...> wrote: > Harriet, Labird,>> I guess the first thing I'd check is a physical cause such as a> blocked microphone opening which might get lint or dust in it. In terms> of the inner workings of the app, I've had similar issues where no> species show up even when I hear singing close by, but it seems like> after a short delay the list sometimes populates and seems fine after> that. I just assume that's a glitch either in the program or the> connection, or possibly just that my phone has too many apps open. I> sometimes close all apps and reopen just Merlin. It tends to work, but> it may just be by chance. Another possibility is that the location isn't> set to the right geographical area, but it would take a bit of doing to> accidentally alter that setting. Updating the sound packets for each> region probably improves performance as well, but Merlin often reminds> me to update right when I'm in the middle of using the app in the field>> However, that does bring up an interesting and (to me) annoying> limitation with Merlin. If a species isn't expected where I'm birding,> Merlin typically just ignores it. I understand that Merlin needs to> narrow down the possibilities because many birds around the world make> similar sounds, but ideally if a really rare bird is present, it would> sure be nice if Merlin would tell me. When I think a rarity is present,> I've had to turn off the phone's GPS and manually switch the location in> the app to a location on Earth where that species is normally found or> Merlin won't admit that the bird is present. Off course, that reset> opens a Pandora's box where every vocal species present might get> misidentified as an exotic cousin.>> Merlin is a work in progress, but eventually if enough good> input is confirmed, it seems like the output will become reliable.> Birders like you and Van that state the shortcomings and glitches in the> program are probably doing the app a big favor by calling attention to> its flaws, and certainly doing the birding community a favor by making> everyone think twice about its results.>>> Paul Conover>> Lafayette>>>>> On 4/17/26 7:49 PM, Harriett Pooler wrote:> > Van, Paul, and LaBird:> >> > I’ve had some false positives with Merlin too, and hearing in my right> ear isn’t what it used to be; however, my main problem is that Merlin> checks out at times and doesn’t pick up any birds or just some at other> times. I’ve seen this often on bird walks with multiple people whose Merlin> picks up birds while mine is on vacation. I’ve deleted the app and then> reinstalled which seems to help for a while. It is almost like it knows> there are other birders on Merlin in the same area and doesn’t put the> effort on all iPhones. Any suggestions?> >> > Harriett Pooler> > Baton Rouge> >> > Sent from my iPhone> >> >>>>> >>>
