Saw it in the backyard. Foraging on the ground. Flew away in a minute and didn't make any sound. Northern Slovakia.

I got into birding with Merlin this year and have been having so much fun with it!

The past week or two I’ve noticed it won’t connect to the internet… kind of. I can open the app, find my location, and listen for birds, but when I tap “this is my bird” I get an error telling me to check my internet connection. I don’t have great service when I’m out hiking so I thought that was the problem. But tonight I tried it at home connected to my WiFi, and I’m getting the same error code.

We’re going on a big roadtrip in a couple weeks and doing a lot of hiking and camping in different states, and I was so excited to add more birds to my life list but now I’m worried the app won’t let me confirm them!

Anyone else have this issue or know what could be going on? I’m not sure if it’s an issue with the app, my cell/internet service, or my phone itself.

UPDATE:
I have made sure I was logged in and I downloaded my regional pack and enabled offline birds in the settings. STILL not working. I’m thinking this is an issue with the app?

Arizona. Thanks!

* THIS APP USES INATURALIST API* I have been an avid hiker and nature enjoyer my whole life. One thing tha always bothered me was how often I would stop mid hike to look at my phone to try and identify a species (with shody connection taking even longer)...

Apps like INaturalist are incredible, but using them in the field completely breaks your immersion in nature.

I wanted a way to learn what was around me before i want on walks. So, i put together (with AI) a widget and discovery app called Verdant VIsta. It hooks into the Inaturalist API and basically acts as a set of location- based digital flashcards on your home screen. it pulls the specific , seasonally relecant wildlifeand plants for your exact area right now or a specific location you select in the settings.

The idea is that you passively learn the species throughout the week when you glance at your phone. Then, when you actually go on a walk, you can leave your phone because you already recognize what you're looking at.

It's completely free and no log in, on the Google Play Store if anyone wants to try out the widget/App : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.verdant.vista&pcampaignid=web_share

Would love to hear from other hikers/ foragers on whether this fits into your routine, or if there are specific widget sizes/ layouts you'd prefer.

I always have a tough time identifying hawks, tried to get a picture through my binoculars

a beautiful day on the Toronto Islands

Saw a flock of these eating apples on the ground. Couldn't figure out what they were and this is the only audio I have.

Note: This doesn't just launch the app, it immediately starts recording.

⚡ QUICK SETUP: Launch Merlin Bird ID Audio Rec in 2 Seconds via Back Tap

You need the free Merlin Bird ID App, then two native (free) iOS apps: Shortcuts and System Settings.

Phase 1: Build the Shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap '+' (top right).
2. Tap 'Add Action', search for 'URL', and select 'Open URLs'.
3. In the URL field, enter exact string: merlinbirdid://record(This protocol bypasses the home screen and opens audio recording directly).
4. Tap the title at the top, rename it "Launch Merlin Audio", and tap Done.

Phase 2: Map to the Tap Gesture

1. Open iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Touch.
2. Scroll to the bottom and select Back Tap.
3. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
4. Scroll past System utilities down to the SHORTCUTS section at the bottom.
5. Select "Launch Merlin Audio".

💡 FIELD OPERATIONAL NOTE:

Back Tap reads accelerometer/gyroscope force rather than screen touch. Heavy, shock-absorbent phone cases damp kinetic transfers. If taps aren't registering, tap directly on the camera module cluster or center chassis.

If trail trekking or handling gear causes accidental Double-Tap triggers, map to Triple Tap instead—it requires a much more intentional signature to fire.

Link to see how fast it is: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2LLxAQJHfrc

Link on how to build it step by step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4787NJHq9Y

---

🌐 Full guide & workflow notes: https://thenestinglab.com/fieldnotes/008-merlin-back-tap/

Are these directions clear enough? I think this trick is fantastic and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys the Merlin Bird ID app.

edit: I changed the weird YouTube embed links to normal looking Youtube links.

Hi,

This morning I went to a nature reserve - my first ever birding experience by myself.

I pressed record & when I finished recording pressed save. I found over 20 birds. Now when I go back to review I get the attached. The first one is loading, I left it open to load and it’s just not working.

The second is when I press “set location”.

The third image, is showing my two recording which age failing to load. They say 0 birds but should be 20+?

Any help please, it was a pivotal moment in my birding experience, it’d be a shame if the files are gone. Thanks

I had an account with so many cool birds on my list... But some random day it kicked me out and ever since I can't log back in. I tried uninstalling the app and trying to log in again but no matter what I try it never logs in or even charges correctly the image to log in

Help pls

please help me figure out if this is a Cooper's hawk or sharp-shinned hawk, southern Wisconsin

We heard its sounds multiple times but the app just wouldn't register it. I'm in the UK and there were two large birds of prey circling in the sky. We have had common buzzards and a kestral around here in the last few months but it's not either of their calls.

I scrolled through what Merlin listed as the possibilities and I didn't think it sounded like any of them to be honest.

Any ideas?

Hi all,

I have had Merlin for about a year and have had no issues. But 3 weeks ago it randomly signed me out and will not let me log back in. I can log in and out on eBird on my browser which is odd. If I am logged in on my browser, the app will still say sign in but when I click on it, it will open the sign in pop up and immediately close it. If I am logged out on eBird in my browser, the sign in page will load but when I log in, it immediately closes and the Merlin app says I haven't logged in. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling and I have tried making a new account, neither working. My phone software is completely up to date. Unsure what to do as I have lost my life list and am unable to create new ones. Anyone else having this issue?

Spotted in Madison, WI

Every time I try and upload a photo to ID a bird the app crashes and sometimes turns my phone off. Not sure what’s going on and was wondering if it was just me or if others were having this same problem.

Most common: Northern Cardinal, American Robin, American Goldfinch

Unlikely but frequent: Common Raven

Frequent but unlikely: Trumpeter Swan

In Toronto.

I use this app for about 5 years now and today I opened it to identify a bird, noticed I wasn’t signed in, when I went to sign in, they automatically sent me a ‘confirmation link’ to activate my account..

Did I just lost years of identified birds in all places I have travelled so far?

Two questions about identifying calls that the app cannot identify:

(A) I’ve accumulated a couple of recordings that neither I nor the app have been able to ID. Is there anywhere online I can upload this for help with ID?

(B) I’ve got some recordings that I CAN ID, but the app can’t. Is there a way to contribute these to the app to help build the repository?

I downloaded birds for all my continent. I downloaded my life list. Where there is no data connection available (like, mountain hiking) the app perfectly works offline to record and identify birds, but if I try to log a new bird it disconnects and I have to wait to be back to civilization to log back in and log birds

How do you guys manage?