[Tweeters] A New Way to use Merlin Sound ID

[Stephen T Bird via Tweeters]

If you have computer coding experience or a fair amount of patience I’d
recommend getting a raspberryPi (a programmable microcontroller) and
loading BirdNETPi on it. This is the same software from Cornell that
subserves Merlin, but in a handy (free) package that it goes on a
raspberryPi instead of your cellphone.

You connect it to your wifi, plug in a microphone, it runs 24-7 in 15
second recordings, to identify who’s passing through. It makes the same
mistakes. But the creator made a nifty interface you can access from a
computer or cellphone on the same Wi-Fi network so you can see what time of
day and who’s passing through, then go back and review the recordings. It
helped me date the arrival of cryptic migrants better, and just brought me
the joy of knowing the goldfinches (or sunbirds) always come through at the
same times during the day (and wonder what route they take the rest of the
time).

Alternatively… find someone good at coding to upload the software to a
raspberryPi for you. I’ve wanted to undertake such a project and distribute
100 of them at houses and parks (it’s only the cost of a Pi and a
microphone). Alas I moved abroad and my BirdNETPi moved with me.

Reach out if you’d like more details,
-Stephen J
Mysore, India

On Thu, Nov 14, 2024 at 5:06 AM Tom Benedict via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:


> I’ve found that Merlin stops recording after awhile. Is there a setting to

> tell it to keep recording indefinitely? Or is there some other workaround?

> And I’m not exactly clear on what the wireless microphone does for you. Is

> it that you don’t want to leave your phone outside overnight? Or is the

> microphone a better quality for bird than the built in cell phone mic?

>

> Tom Benedict

> Seahurst, WA

>

>

>

> On Nov 13, 2024, at 14:12, Philip Magallanes via Tweeters <

> tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:

>

> Dear Tweets,

>

> I believe I discovered an inexpensive way to add another dimension to

> birding.  It started with Merlin Sound ID.  As we all know, Merlin Sound ID

> offers suggestions as to what birds may be present.  It can have problems

> for a variety of reasons including background noise, low recording volume,

> other birds with similar calls, database limitations and others.  But it is

> still used by many birders as an aid.

> Recently, our Trilogy Birders Club has had an interest in owls that have

> been calling in our neighborhoods.  My fellow birder asked the question, is

> there a way to record at night so that we could hear the owls?  The answer

> was yes, use a wireless microphone.  So, I purchased an inexpensive ($25)

> wireless microphone kit from Amazon to fit my cellphone.  After charging

> one of the mics, I attached the small receiver to my cellphone, left the

> cellphone in my living room, and then placed the microphone on our deck.

> After turning on Merlin, the bird list began to show up as it does when

> using Merlin in the field.  But there were more birds. The house acted as a

> hide.

> The first thing I noticed is that the morning chorus is intense and

> includes a multitude of species.  It starts at first light and continues

> for one or two hours.  Next, the owls rule the night.  Geese are common

> before sunrise and after sunset, but Merlin reports only owls in the middle

> of the night.  Owls included Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Barn Owl and

> Northern Saw-whet Owl.  We have heard and photographed the Great Horned

> Owl, heard and photographed the Barred Owl, and heard the Barn Owl.  We

> have yet to hear the Northern Saw-whet Owl but have recorded this owl at

> two separate locations one-half mile apart.

> Your thoughts?

>

> Phil Magallanes

> Trilogy Birders

> Redmond Ridge

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