Making the most of Merlin and eBird: Here’s how to strike a balance with the birding apps.

Summary

Birding apps like Merlin and eBird have forever changed birding by helping you know what you’re hearing, what you’re likely to see and keeping your life lists. Yet they’re so powerful they can be addictive and take our eyes off the birds themselves. Here are ways to find a balance between communing with nature and using the apps.

Second in a series

By Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal

The boardwalk at Magee Marsh is a birder’s dream. The refuge is one of the East Coast’s busiest stopovers for migrating birds, set on the edge of Lake Erie. On a good spring day, you can see a sizable percentage of the country’s warblers, feeding on branches just feet from you -– with a Bald Eagle circling overhead to complete the scene.

It’s also a great place to take a reading on your addiction to the birding apps. Do you grab your phone to see how many species Merlin says are hidden out of sight? Or do you put your phone away and immerse yourself in pure birding as rich and fulfilling as it comes?

Our most recent post took up the question of whether the increasing reliance on apps such as Merlin and eBird are getting in the way of finding quiet, peaceful time to commune with avian nature. This is about how to find your way in the ever-evolving, app-fueled birding world.

Here are the best ideas we’ve found for striking a balance that gives you the best of both:

Dose of moderation

First off, this is by no means an all-or-nothing proposition. The apps are remarkable tools and invaluable in plenty of birdwatching situations and for many birders. At the same time, there’s much to be said for a restful, rejuvenating escape from our stressful days very much built on digital tools.

Alternate going with and without using apps during the same outing: This is an obvious solution, but one that takes some restraint and a little preparation. You might spend time using eBird when starting out to see what species are likely prospects. Or check Merlin Sound ID to see what’s making noise nearby. Once birds are visible, switch to your own eyes and ears to be fully present. (Put that phone away.)

Recognize the distinction between different settings for birdwatching: If you’re sitting in your backyard, Merlin is a great way to find out what’s around. However a natural landscape offers not just birds but sunshine, breezes, smells and other sounds, all a precious part of the experience. For newcomers, the backyard is a great place to get started. Merlin is like having a private tutor to help you figure out which songs belong to which birds. Not only can you learn those sounds, it can improve sight recognition, too. 

Make use of binoculars: There’s nothing like the sheer awe of watching birds close-up through binoculars. That may seem obvious, but it takes practice to keep up with speedy, sallying birds. You might want to check out our Flying Lessons posts on buying and using binoculars. The Cornell Lab is also developing guidance that helps people master the art of binoculars, and we’ll let you know when it’s available.

Limit what else you do with your phone while birding: “Once you open your phone, you’re like, oh, well, maybe I’ll go check the weather and maybe I’ll look at that message and then maybe I’ll pop over to what the football schedule is going to be,” said Jessie Barry, program manager at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, who’s spent 15 years developing the Merlin app.

Try going back to a notebook to list what you’re seeing and then filing your eBird checklist after you’re done. This is a tactic several birders mention in order to immerse themselves in the outdoors. Checklists are important; not only do they build your lists, they feed data to Cornell Lab’s vital research projects. But a few hours delay won’t make a difference and it takes no more time to jot down the species you encounter than keep up with an eBird list.

Appoint a designated driver (app-user) when birding with others: One of the benefits of birding in a group is that one person can keep an eBird list for everyone. You can also have just one of you handle the Merlin duties for the sake of all. Not to mention how much it helps to have a host of eyes looking for birds, making identifications and tracking species as they move about. (And there’s nothing like a generous veteran to help a newcomer learn the ropes.)

Take to heart the curative powers of quiet, peaceful birdwatching. It’s worth remembering that focusing just on the birds has a host of rewards. Scientists have documented the many benefits: Birding improves physical and mental health and can even lower your blood pressure. But you don’t need researchers to tell you that. All you have to do is spend a day in quiet solitude, following birds as they go about their days to feel the calming, restorative powers of birdwatching.

Welcome newcomers on the birding trail

One of the reasons people are turning to apps is there isn’t always as much help and guidance among birders as there ought to be.

This raises one of our pet peeves about modern birding as it becomes more crowded, competitive and at times unfriendly. As we got started years ago, we found ourselves snubbed at times for our lack of experience — and sometimes for our poor birding etiquette. (Here’a a favorite blog about how to be a good neighbor while birding.)

As we’ve dug into the questions surrounding apps, we’ve bumped up against an elitism among some birders who say you’re not birding if you need help from an app. We suspect this is a way of looking down on folks who aren’t as far along.

How much better would we all be if we were more generous, especially those just getting started. A crowded birding trail can sometimes intrude on our peace and quiet. But it’s also a sign that numbers of birders are growing. We shouldn’t forget how beneficial that is for birds. And much of that unprecedented growth is driven by the Cornell Lab apps that have opened up a world that’s tough to master on your own.

And as the interest in birding expands, so does the support for the very delights we’re out there to see. The widening community of birders — young and old, veterans and newcomers, dedicated travelers and backyard birders — is what fuels the support for conservation and preservation that’s desperately needed for the future of birds populations.