[Tweeters] Magic man fowls it up again

[Kevin Lucas via Tweeters]

Over the winter Merlin has repeatedly mistaken vocalizations by starlings
as being from Western Wood-Pewees. There are several places where a
starling does a GREAT imitation, e.g. Eschbach Nature Area, the Eagle Path
at the southern end of the Yakima Greenway Path in Union Gap, and at two
places where we lived. At the Eagle Path and Eschbach, when I've read
out-of-season Western Wood-Pewee heard-only reports, I've thought it likely
to be one of the talented Starlings I'd heard there.

In our back yard last week Merlin was fooled that a starling was a robin. I
was watching and listening to the starling atop the utility pole calling
like a robin. It sounded good enough I decided to give Merlin a go. Merlin
failed, said American Robin. Most times with Starlings Merlin correctly
indicates Starling.

During a winter raptor survey this year in the White Swan area I heard an
unusual vocalization. I was next to running water, so I could not hear all
of the quality of the song. I tried Merlin. It said Wood Thrush. I didn't
know what Wood Thrushes sounded like. Once home, I listened to Wood Thrush
vocalizations. It had not been a Wood Thrush. I worked on the Merlin
recorded audio using Audacity -- noise reduction, frequency notch filters,
and amplification. I then played back the cleaned-up audio on my computer,
and used Merlin on my phone to try again. This time Merlin nailed it --
Song Sparrow.

Yesterday I went to one of my favorite spots to look for Greater
White-fronted Geese. About 10 minutes after I arrived I heard a flock of
them heading my way. As they got closer I took some photos. Some landed
with the Cackling and Canada Geese, others flew over. I wondered whether
Merlin was good at distinguishing between Cackling and Canada Geese, but
wouldn't be able to test since they were mixed together there. When I heard
some more Greater White-fronted Geese calling as they flew toward me, I
pulled out my phone and gave the magic man a go. They flew low, calling,
right over me. Merlin fowled it up, identifying them as Cackling Geese.

Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd
trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.

I'm looking forward to hearing my first Western Wood-Pewee of the year
while I'm watching it. I'm not annoyed by Merlin. I'm amazed, and sometimes
I find him incredible.

Good Birding,
https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/
Kevin Lucas
Yakima County, WA

*Qui tacet consentire videtur*
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