Merlin Bird ID app used to track Southern California bird populations

Residents in Southern California are increasingly using the Merlin Bird ID application, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, to identify local avian populations through acoustic recognition. The software functions by recording ambient audio and matching vocalizations against an extensive digital library, allowing users to catalogue the morning soundscapes of their own backyards.

In urban ecosystems such as Los Angeles, the technology helps observers track both native species and migratory birds passing along the Pacific Flyway. Beyond native wildlife, the app is being used to document the expansion of introduced species, such as Swinhoe’s white-eye, which are establishing themselves within the region’s urban canopy.