<div dir="ltr"><div>Here's the <a href="https://www.macaulaylibrary.org/2021/06/22/behind-the-scenes-of-sound-id-in-merlin/">Cornell Lab's</a> article on how they built Merlin bird ID. They didn't accept recordings willy-nilly, they had a team of experts go through and manually tag hours of audio recordings.<br></div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Preston Mui<div><a href="mailto:prestonmui@gmail.com" target="_blank">prestonmui@gmail.com</a></div><div><a href="http://prestonmui.github.io/" target="_blank">http://prestonmui.github.io/</a><br></div><div><div>(425) 223-8450</div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 4:26 PM ck park via Tweeters <<a href="mailto:tweeters@u.washington.edu">tweeters@u.washington.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">i'm surprised merlin's database is populated by junk data. did they accept any/all recordings just to get something to market, or have they at least vetted the audio with experts in bird calls / songs? one would think, where confusing audio is possible, it would take nothing for them to post that you MIGHT be hearing X, Y, or Z, depending, and to verify visually if possible...</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 3:19 PM PENNY & DAVID KOYAMA via Tweeters <<a href="mailto:tweeters@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">tweeters@u.washington.edu</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><u></u>
<div>
<div>
Ha, ha. I still laugh about the time Merlin "recorded" a Yellowhammer (Eurpean bird) when birding in New Mexico, and another time last spring when Barb Webster and I were at Stillwater near Carnation, WA and Merlin claimed American Robin rather than the Bullock's Oriole we watched calling.
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I do admire your persistence as a Merlin detective!
</div>
<div>
Penny Koyama, Bothell
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div>
On 04/03/2024 10:12 AM PDT Kevin Lucas via Tweeters <<a href="mailto:tweeters@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">tweeters@u.washington.edu</a>> wrote:
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">
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.
<br>
<br>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.
<br>
<br>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.
<br>
<br>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.
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">
<br>Perhaps Merlin can distinguish between Cackling and Canada Geese, but I'd trust him even less after his latest foul up with fowl up.
<br>
<br>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.
<br>
<br>Good Birding,
<br><a href="https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/" target="_blank">https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/</a>
<br>Kevin Lucas
<br>Yakima County, WA
</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large">
</div>
<div>
<div class="gmail_signature" dir="ltr">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>
<strong><span style="font-size:xx-large"><span style="color:rgb(95,99,104);font-family:Roboto,arial,sans-serif">Qui tacet consentire</span><span style="color:rgb(77,81,86);font-family:Roboto,arial,sans-serif"> videtur</span></span></strong>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div> _______________________________________________
<br>Tweeters mailing list
<br><a href="mailto:Tweeters@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">Tweeters@u.washington.edu</a>
<br><a href="http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters" target="_blank">http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
Tweeters mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Tweeters@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">Tweeters@u.washington.edu</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters</a><br>
</blockquote></div>
_______________________________________________<br>
Tweeters mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:Tweeters@u.washington.edu" target="_blank">Tweeters@u.washington.edu</a><br>
<a href="http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters</a><br>
</blockquote></div>