Calling All Bird Lovers: We’re Obsessed With This Identification App

Birds are back. I don’t mean in a migratory sense; I mean in popularity. Since 2020, birding has been on the rise and has proved to be <a href="https://qz.com/2024279/birdings-popularity-is-lasting-beyond-the-pandemic" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">more than a fad</a>. Everyone I chat with these days seems to be captivated by corvids, wowed by wood ducks, and obsessed with owls. There’s no end to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/08/05/nature-study-impact-hiking-outdoors/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">research and articles</a> touting the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/07/well/mind/ecotherapy-mental-health-diversity.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">mental</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22846594/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">physical</a> <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">health benefits</a> of simply being outdoors or <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/24/well/move/hiking-guide-beginners.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">going for a hike</a>. But even beyond that, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/interactive/2023/birds-song-nature-mental-health-benefits/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">listening to birdsong</a>—including when it’s recorded—seems to have additional positive effects on wellness. Part of the appeal of birding may be the very low barrier to entry—you don’t need anything more than to go outside to observe birds. And if you want help identifying them, the <a href="https://zdcs.link/8yeAd" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Merlin Bird ID app</a> by Cornell Lab is where you should start. <a href="https://medium.com/pcmag-access/calling-all-bird-lovers-were-obsessed-with-this-identification-app-f020afdd6647">Visit Now</a>