The Merlin bird identification app, launched just two years ago, is set to revolutionise global biodiversity monitoring by linking its vast user-generated data to eBird, one of the world's largest citizen-science platforms. This pioneering collaboration aims to provide an unprecedented wealth of information for conservation efforts targeting vulnerable bird species.
Since its inception in 2021, Merlin has leveraged machine learning to offer users instantaneous sound identification of birdsong, accompanied by corresponding images. The app is now poised to upload user-recorded bird detections automatically to eBird, which boasts an impressive two billion+ records from across the globe since its establishment in 2002.
In the UK alone, nearly two million users have downloaded Merlin, making Britain its second-largest user base globally, with over 40 million downloads worldwide. The app has played a significant role in raising awareness of the country's declining bird populations, which have plummeted by over 70 million in just five decades, according to the British Trust for Ornithology.
Jessie Barry, a key figure behind Merlin, highlighted that upcoming feature developments would strengthen its link with eBird systems. This integration will allow data collected through user interactions to be used for monitoring bird populations and informing ecological management strategies. The app currently identifies 2,066 bird species, spanning North America, Europe, India, and parts of Central and South America.
While experts praise the app's ability to engage new audiences in ornithology, some have raised concerns about potential identification errors. Professor Richard Gregory of the RSPB noted that while Merlin is a valuable tool for public engagement, it can still make mistakes. The European Bird Census Council (EBCC) advises against using Merlin in official breeding bird surveys due to accuracy issues and has established a monitoring group to coordinate acoustic bird monitoring across Europe.