Birding Goes Mainstream: The Rise of Shazam Like Apps The world of birdwatching has undergone significant changes in recent years, driven by the proliferation of mobile apps that use AI to identify species based on sound and visual recordings.
Merlin Bird ID, developed by Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology, has been downloaded over 12 million times this year alone, with a total of 42 million downloads worldwide.
The surge in popularity of birding apps is attracting a new demographic: younger people who may not have previously considered themselves "birders.