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We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Sunday, May 7. 2023

Merlin is my AI

May is bird migration season up here in New England. That Sound ID called Merlin has changed my life. It is 90+ percent accurate, and even labels a Mockingbird's song imitations as Mockingbird.


Sure, I can ID most local warblers and vireos if I get a good look, but usually you don't feel like straining your neck for hours. One trick an older guy I know used to use is to lie on the ground under a big old oak tree with mini-binoculars (the kind we use for opera).


A Warbling Vireo? OK, I heard it but no hope of seeing it. 


Below the fold, some of what Merlin heard with me early this morning near the shore (most confirmed with eyes too, or just seen). Gotta get out early for some of this: 


5/7/23


Fish Crow
Am. Crow
Osprey 
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Yellow Legs
Snowy Egret 
White-Throated SParrow
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Parula Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Black-Throated Green Warbler
Yellowthroat Warbler
BC Chickadee
Cardinal 


Blue Jay
Am. Robin
Baltimore Oriole
Brant Geese
Canada Goose
Mockingbird
Mute Swan
Black Duck
Mallard
Goldfinch
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Carolina Wren
Towhee
Herring Gull
GBB Gull
P. Grackle
Great Crested Flycatcher

Not very exciting. Forgot some.


No Thrushes, Terns, or Barn Swallows yet...next week, probably.

Posted by Bird Dog in Natural History and Conservation at 14:10 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

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Positive uses for AI.
Saw a page that said use it for seniors to interact with phone merry-go-round hospital calls and to deal with bureaucrats.
One that teaches music would be interesting.
What really matters is what goes in and who is the programmer.
No guarantee that a WOKE communist will never program one.
Remember the Merlin game from the early 1980's?
Wow, it says 1978 for date of release.
#1 Yorrick on 2023-05-07 17:36 (Reply)
Does anyone know which bird sings brit-brit-brit-huuuume?

I suspect it of being a cardinal, aka red-bird, but am not sure.
#2 Codfanglers on 2023-05-08 07:53 (Reply)
I've found Merlin to be quite frustrating. At times it's amazing, correctly IDing a species with merely a distant chip note. Other times, often when I really want an answer, it can't figure out somethings that's fairly close and distinct. It has the same issue with certain warblers' songs that I do. Either it won't provide a species, provides what turns out to be an incorrect species, or in one exasperating case during our Spring Bird Count over the weekend, provided 3 species for the same bird.

Better off sticking to your own ears, binoculars and patience.
#3 OldPete on 2023-05-08 16:38 (Reply)

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