Ornithology aka bird-watching, birding, is an enjoyable Nature-related activity. During the summer vacation, encourage your children to try birding using these apps which help identify avian species and provide valuable information about their wildlife habits, habitats, dietary preferences, nesting periods, and other interesting trivia
– Kiran Balimane
Indian Birds
Platform: iOS, Android
Age group: 8+
This is a user-friendly app designed to assist bird enthusiasts identify common avian species in India. From its comprehensive database featuring over 1,500 feathered species, users can access detailed information about their natural habitats, nesting and migratory habits, photos, and bird calls for easy identification. The USP of this app is that it provides information in several Indian languages.
eBird India
Platform: iOS, Android
Age group: 10+
eBird India, a constituent of the global eBird platform, enables bird-watchers to document bird sightings, access sightings from other birders, and contribute to scientific research on the avian population of India. With a user-friendly interface and extensive database, eBird India is an invaluable aid for birders of all ages interested in contributing to citizen science initiatives. Continuous inputs from birders worldwide adds up to a rich database that provides in-depth insights into the population, movement and habits of numerous avian species.
Birds of India
Platform: iOS, Android
Age Group: 8+
This is an informative app offering details of over 1,400 species habiting nationwide. With features such as photos, descriptions, distribution maps, and bird calls, it aids bird identification and exploration. Users can also create and share sighting lists, and contribute to building a community database.
Merlin Bird ID
Platform: iOS and Android
Age Group: All ages
Designed and developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, USA, Merlin Bird ID uses artificial intelligence to identify bird species from uploaded photos. Suitable for all ages, this innovative app simplifies the identification process, making bird watching accessible and enjoyable for beginners and professionals. Uniquely it allows you to listen to bird calls around you and identify them. You can record bird calls and songs, and upload them on the app for identification. There’s also provision for users to feed details such as colour, type, size, activity, etc about the bird you want to identify, and the app will provide likely answers.
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