Merlin Bird ID • Hacker News Board

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#51

Post by MHM5000 » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:44 AM UTC

Amazing... I have the same idea for car sounds! You know, when different cars make random noise here and there, and you don't see what's wrong!

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#52

Post by justincormack » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:45 AM UTC

pixelesque wrote: post #18

Note that the recent iOS update seems to have introduced a bug whereby even after stopping recording, the app in the background will continue to use SIGNIFICANT battery life, so I've needed to start force-closing the app after using it.

It did that for me a while back but seems better now, I had hoped it was fixed…

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#53

Post by jiehong » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:47 AM UTC

Great app!

In my experience, it works pretty well in Europe, but so so in East Asia (doesn't know many birds there).

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#54

Post by lionkor » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:47 AM UTC

MHM5000 wrote: post #51

Amazing... I have the same idea for car sounds! You know, when different cars make random noise here and there, and you don't see what's wrong!

That would need more metadata, the car sound app would need to know a lot of specifics about the car, so it's likely not as "easy"

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#55

Post by tomashubelbauer » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:48 AM UTC

MHM5000 wrote: post #51

Amazing... I have the same idea for car sounds! You know, when different cars make random noise here and there, and you don't see what's wrong!

Good idea, let me know if you want me to contribute VW Caddy loose turbo whine. :D

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#56

Post by mapleoin » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:49 AM UTC

I would love for someone to make a birding/citizen scientist app that's well gamified. This is basically pokemon. You go places and find different creatures and collect them.

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#57

Post by sodimel » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:51 AM UTC

mapleoin wrote: post #56

I would love for someone to make a birding/citizen scientist app that's well gamified. This is basically pokemon. You go places and find different creatures and collect them.

I had the same idea a few years ago. Would be really great.

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#58

Post by d0ugal » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:56 AM UTC

sgarman wrote: post #23

I was thinking of trying to run this at home: https://github.com/tphakala/birdnet-go

I have been running this for about 1 year, works very well. The developer is regularly updating it and I run the nightly image at the moment.

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#59

Post by have_faith » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 8:59 AM UTC

mapleoin wrote: post #56

I would love for someone to make a birding/citizen scientist app that's well gamified. This is basically pokemon. You go places and find different creatures and collect them.

iNaturalist is great for logging observations (their iNat Next app is their new one).

They also have an app called Seek that I think is more aimed at kids, but it comes with trophies and streaks and stuff like that.

Re: Merlin Bird ID

#60

Post by bhattisatish » Wed, Jun 04, 2025, 9:07 AM UTC

mapleoin wrote: post #56

I would love for someone to make a birding/citizen scientist app that's well gamified. This is basically pokemon. You go places and find different creatures and collect them.

[eBird](https://ebird.org/home) has exactly what you are looking for:

- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ebird-by-cornell-lab-ornitho...

- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.cornell.bi...

Even merlin does some of it:

https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org/download/