Saw a demo of an AI tool that transcribes bird calls in real time

I was at a nature center in Vermont last weekend and a ranger showed me this app that identifies birds by sound using machine learning. Has anyone else used something like this for identifying wildlife on hikes?

3 comments

3 Comments

clairer799d ago

Oh yeah @morgan.mary totally gets it, those apps are great for a quick ID but I'd never trade my beat-up Sibley guide for one either, especially when the wind picks up and the app just gives up.

andrewh438d ago

Is it really that deep though, @morgan.mary?

morgan.mary9d ago

...and then what, you're supposed to trust an app over your own ears? I mean, I've seen these things misidentify a blue jay as a red-tailed hawk in a noisy backyard. Your mileage may vary, but I wouldn't swap my field guide for a glowing screen just yet. Those algorithms can be thrown off by wind, distance, or a car door slamming in the background. It's a neat party trick for sure, but I'd take it with a big grain of salt if you're actually trying to learn the birds yourself.