Any birdwatchers?

[liqueur]

Merlin users?

Does anyone here really know the ins and outs of Merlin? I've been using the app for years now— I have no problem IDing birds with it. But something I haven't figured out yet:

I've been watching birds for nearly 70 years now. I've seen a few. I'd like (better late than never) to build a life list. Who I've seen, and as well as I can remember, where and when my first sighting was. Merlin has a link for "life list." But when I click that link, the list I can build there is tied specifically to the current day and location. Not a "life" list at all, but a day list.

Does anyone know how to do what I'm trying to do? Or failing that, another app that will do what I want?

(I tried looking for a Merlin forum. One is on Facebook— I don't do Facebook. The next one I found was on some commercial page and looked suspect, and I went away.)

 

[liqueur]

You should have seen this Mockingbird today: it got jealous of this Red-headed Woodpecker screaming and started singing But then also screaming just like the red-headed woodpecker. What was even funnier is that the Woodpecker was probably about 60 ft away and the Mockingbird was about 25 and both of them could see me. That went on for about a minute before the Mockingbird finally flew off and got tired of mocking the red-headed woodpecker.

First time I ever saw such a thing!

We don't have mockingbirds up here. Catbirds are our primary imitators. But I enjoy hearing blue jays initiate red-tailed hawks. I always wonder, are they actually warning of the presence of a hawk? Or are they just trying to shake the neighborhood up a bit, see who they can get to scurry for cover?

 

[Comentarista82]

We don't have mockingbirds up here. Catbirds are our primary imitators. But I enjoy hearing blue jays initiate red-tailed hawks. I always wonder, are they actually warning of the presence of a hawk? Or are they just trying to shake the neighborhood up a bit, see who they can get to scurry for cover?

Usually blue jays are the first line of defense/alarm with red-tailed hawks, as they will start squawking a certain way when one's present.

If you look up Critter Cam on FB, that's where you might hear that particular cry, as hawks sometimes love hogging the camera time. LOL

I thought this was it, but it was 11 May and no alarm--but this red-shouldered hawk visits frequently according to the lady in CT. Mira la belleza...

 

[Comentarista82]

Merlin users?

Does anyone here really know the ins and outs of Merlin? I've been using the app for years now— I have no problem IDing birds with it. But something I haven't figured out yet:

I've been watching birds for nearly 70 years now. I've seen a few. I'd like (better late than never) to build a life list. Who I've seen, and as well as I can remember, where and when my first sighting was. Merlin has a link for "life list." But when I click that link, the list I can build there is tied specifically to the current day and location. Not a "life" list at all, but a day list.

Does anyone know how to do what I'm trying to do? Or failing that, another app that will do what I want?

(I tried looking for a Merlin forum. One is on Facebook— I don't do Facebook. The next one I found was on some commercial page and looked suspect, and I went away.)

What I do is this in app and it's worked for me:

1) Find your bird
2) specify the location (where you saw it)
3) If it's a first time for that bird, it will mark it as a "lifer," and throw all kinds of confetti for you. I'm up to 105.

 

[Comentarista82]

We don't have mockingbirds up here. Catbirds are our primary imitators. But I enjoy hearing blue jays initiate red-tailed hawks. I always wonder, are they actually warning of the presence of a hawk? Or are they just trying to shake the neighborhood up a bit, see who they can get to scurry for cover?

Found it!

Click on this link. You can even hear catbirds in the background.

 

[Comentarista82]

View attachment 2640696

BOTH those red-winged blackbirds are SMOKIN'!!!!

 

[Comentarista82]

View attachment 2633762

OR....you could say it just LOWERS THE BOOM....

 

[liqueur]

What I do is this in app and it's worked for me:

1) Find your bird
2) specify the location (where you saw it)
3) If it's a first time for that bird, it will mark it as a "lifer," and throw all kinds of confetti for you. I'm up to 105.

I feel like I must be trying to use the wrong page in the app, because I've seen no options to do those things. Location is automatically set for where I am at the moment, and date is automatically today's date. No way to record past sightings. I'll go back and try to explore it more carefully

 

[liqueur]

If you look up Critter Cam on FB...

Don't do FB

 

[Smuttyandfun]

 

[Britva415]

I always wonder, are they actually warning of the presence of a hawk? Or are they just trying to shake the neighborhood up a bit, see who they can get to scurry for cover?

I've absolutely seen scrub jays do this, and seen them take advantage of the scatter to glean food the other birds left behind.

 

[Britva415]

Merlin has a link for "life list." But when I click that link, the list I can build there is tied specifically to the current day and location.

Don't try to add birds to the list this way.

To find your bird, use the Explore feature. This will let you find the birds that aren't likely to be at your location on this day. You might have to download and install other geographical bird packs if you want to add birds you saw years ago on the other side of the continent - or ocean.

When you find it, choose "This Is My Bird."

Sign in, if you aren't already signed in.

If you're signed in, birds Merlin identifies for you in regular use will also get added to the life list.

 

[liqueur]

Don't try to add birds to the list this way.

To find your bird, use the Explore feature. This will let you find the birds that aren't likely to be at your location on this day. You might have to download and install other geographical bird packs if you want to add birds you saw years ago on the other side of the continent - or ocean.

When you find it, choose "This Is My Bird."

Sign in, if you aren't already signed in.

If you're signed in, birds Merlin identifies for you in regular use will also get added to the life list.

I see. So will it allow me to enter sightings in the past, and at locations other than the current one?

 

[Britva415]

I see. So will it allow me to enter sightings in the past, and at locations other than the current one?

I think so. I've followed this click path as far as the "sign in" step. After that, you're on your own.

Let us know what you find, won'tya?

 

[liqueur]

I think so. I've followed this click path as far as the "sign in" step. After that, you're on your own.

Let us know what you find, won'tya?

Thanks, I will.

 

[Smuttyandfun]

 

[Britva415]

Scissors... tail... ehheh heh heh

 

[liqueur]

Scissors... tail... ehheh heh heh

I don't get it

 

[Britva415]

I don't get it

"scissors" is a sex act, and tail is tail

 

[liqueur]

"scissors" is a sex act, and tail is tail

Oh, ok. I thought there was some joke in the photo.

 

[Britva415]

Oh, ok. I thought there was some joke in the photo.

That's where I saw da bird's name!

Well... not the photo, but the meme image.

 

[SimonDoom]

Here's a map of the world showing bird diversity by region. Coastal and tropical regions, unsurprisingly, have a lot more diversity.

 

[Britva415]

Here's a map of the world showing bird diversity by region. Coastal and tropical regions, unsurprisingly, have a lot more diversity.


View attachment 2650738

666 per... ?

100 km²? That's the "block size" referenced on the website but nowhere does it say whether the map legend uses the same unit.

 

[SimonDoom]

666 per... ?

100 km²? That's the "block size" referenced on the website but nowhere does it say whether the map legend uses the same unit.

Excellent question. I assume it's based upon species confirmed within 10 km by 10 km blocks based on what I understand from the source. That would make sense.

https://biodiversitymapping.org/ind... diversity include,, and small-ranged species.

 

[Smuttyandfun]