From the Winter 2026 concern of Dwelling Chicken journal. Subscribe now.
Is that this a dream? The solar is simply rising over the horizon and I’m in an airport departure gate, peering at big photographs of endemic chook species, full with descriptions of their habitats and conservation. There are even QR codes linking the birds to their eBird profiles.
Actuality step by step dawns. I’m at Taiwan’s Taoyuan Worldwide Airport, beginning my journey house after an inspirational week in late October spending time with eBird companions from greater than a dozen international locations in South and East Asia: studying what they’re doing, their aspirations for the long run, and the way the Cornell Lab can greatest assist their plans. The spectacular airport mural is a manifestation of Taiwan’s nationwide delight in its endemic chook fauna, and the success of eBird Taiwan in constructing a motion to observe and preserve these species.
The eBird companions in every nation are sometimes at completely different phases of improvement, however the elements for a thriving challenge are constant—a shared imaginative and prescient of a small group of devoted birders, the formation of a coordinated assessment workforce, additional coordination by a community of nonprofit and college teams, public engagement by way of occasions and initiatives, institution of an information evaluation workforce, and relationships with decision-makers to affect coverage and administration. Hosted by eBird South Korea, the conferences throughout that week of eBird companions from throughout Asia generally felt like a go to to the long run, with speak about deep integration of latest applied sciences, speedy societal change, and a brand new technology of birdwatchers utilizing apps to activate their native communities.
It’s been significantly thrilling to listen to what the companions wish to work on as a gaggle: bettering knowledge high quality, outreach alongside the Central Asian and East Asian-Australasian Flyways, and bunting counts. One of many massive pushes is to make the Merlin Sound ID smartphone app work as effectively in Asia because it does in North America and Europe. To try this, Merlin wants to realize two issues on the identical time: shortly make a suggestion on what chook is singing, and get it proper at the least 85% of the time. The important thing necessities for correct chook IDs embrace gathering an enormous assortment of sound recordings (normally about 150 recordings per species) and an professional workforce of annotators who can establish the species calling in every of these recordings and construct the reference library for Merlin.
Throughout Asia, Merlin Sound ID at present works for 437 species, however we now have a great set of recordings for at the least one other 267 species. We due to this fact must annotate these recordings as shortly as we will, whereas additionally launching a brand new initiative to file species for which we don’t but have sufficient recordings. In Taiwan and India, the place there are significantly lively birding communities led by eBird Taiwan and Chicken Rely India, this method has labored extremely effectively, including one other 66 species to the Merlin Sound ID mannequin up to now 12 months. Based mostly on the companion assembly, the plan now could be to increase that method throughout Asia, in parallel to related efforts in Latin America, Africa, and Australasia. If we get it proper, this new age of community-driven sound recording is not going to solely deliver Merlin Sound ID to communities throughout the World South, however open the door to distant acoustic monitoring in probably the most biodiverse areas of the world. It’s an ambition solely made potential by the mix of cutting-edge expertise and an unbelievable community of companions and birders.
After I land in San Francisco on my journey house, I’m shocked to listen to the screeching of Purple-masked Parakeets as I navigate the renovations at Terminal 3. That is getting very bizarre! I cease and go searching, and notice the short-term walkways are embellished with a mural depicting the ‘Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill’, with audio system broadcasting a daybreak refrain crammed with birdcalls and tram bells. I see my fellow vacationers wanting round as effectively—and smiling. A robust reminder of the distinctive place of birds in human tradition, a typical language between Asia and America, and amongst individuals around the globe.
Concerning the Creator
Ian Owens is the chief director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
