The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › Bird Identification › Reporting birds on eBird based on sound ID
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I'm just learning sound ID and use that feature on Merlin regularly. IF Merlin sound ID identifies a bird that I don't see nor am able to ID by sound myself should I include that species on my list for eBird.You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
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If the bird is common in that area, I would report it on Ebird, but if it is a uncommon or rare bird, I would try reviewing the calls on Merlin, and seeing if it matches up to what Merlin recorded in the field. Sometimes, when I am using Merlin, there are a bunch of other sounds in the background, and Merlin will report it as a bird. One time, in upstate South Carolina, it said that there was an Arctic Tern. Of course, that time I didn't report it because it was quite obvious that the bird wasn't there. I hope you find this helpful!
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I'm a beginning birder, too, so that's my caveat for this answer. Over using Merlin sound ID for about a year, I think it's sometimes fallible, especially when there is lots of noise in the recording. The way I do it is I listen to the recording I heard and then review the songs and calls that Merlin provides. Sometimes it's really obvious that what I heard is a certain bird, even though I didn't ID it myself. I count those. But I've had other instances where the bird sound is a super short recording, like one chirp, with sounds of a car or airplane, wind chimes, a dog barking or chicken clucking or other birds. There's only a very tiny bit that Merlin is saying is such and such a bird. And then when I listen to Merlin's calls and songs, I see and hear nothing that matches what Merlin ID'd. In those instances, I don't count it. Sometimes, I've managed to get closer, get a better recording or catch a glimpse and then I'll add it, if all matches up and doesn't introduce more doubt. I hope this helps!