Why birding is suddenly everywhere and how to get started.

If the party involves technology, I usually arrive late. But I'm there now and having a wonderful time. With my new friend, Merlin. You know those smartphone apps that tell you what song is playing?

You’re walking in a natural area, and you see a little bird flitting around in the underbrush. You wonder what type of bird ...

The free app, Merlin Bird ID, offers quick identification help for all levels of bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts to help you learn about the birds in any country in the world. That morning, I ...

Birding is a popular pastime for people of all ages. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than 45 million people enjoy watching birds. It’s a hobby you can pick up at any time, it’s ...

I’m not a bird watcher, but I’ve become a bird listener ever since downloading a bionic ear app to my phone. It lets me enter a different world, one where I’m surrounded not just by chirping but by ...

It’s spring, and nature is pulling me away from my computer as I write this. The sun is shining, the world is warming up, and the birds are chirping away. And that got me thinking: What if a ...

Merlin, developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology in 2017, works in conjunction with its other app, eBird, which gathers and stores bird sightings from hoi polloi birders worldwide. Like its ...