Wildlife apps
eBird
eBird: FREE! Not only does this keep a lifetime log of your sightings, but by doing so, you’re also helping scientists learn about birds and how best to help them survive.
This app can also be used to participate in the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, held in February.
Although eBird is easy to use, I recommend taking the FREE eBird Essentials course from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Academy. Full of interesting info about how to get the most from this application!
Merlin Bird ID
Merlin Bird ID App, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is FREE! Just tell this app the date, where you saw the bird (on the ground, in trees etc), its three main colors, and its size (relative to other birds, such as robins), and it will provide the most likely “suspects” along with very clear photos. It has helped me identify birds many a time.
And if you can snap a photo, you can use Merlin’s Photo ID. (As one of the many volunteers who helped “train” this artificial intelligence application, I’m especially pleased to see the excellent outcome!)
- Bird Watcher’s General Store:
- Cornell Merlin bird app
- Mystery chirping sounds – Merlin doesn’t ID non-bird sounds!
Plant Apps
iNaturalist
iNaturalist is FREE! Just snap a photo and volunteers will help ID the plant. You can also join special projects that help collect valuable information about various plants or animals.