Activity

1. Ornithology is the branch of zoology that studies birds. In this activity, you will be an apprentice ornithologist. You will learn to recognize birds from the sounds they make. Let’s start by finding out the name of the bird in the picture. To do so, listen carefully to the sound it makes. Do you recognize this sound?

Paulo Narciso / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML330707091)

Open the BirdNET app on your tablet or smartphone.
With the help of an adult, grant the necessary permissions to do the activity. While using the app, a notification will appear to grant access to the microphone by the BirdNET app. You may also receive a notification to share your location. To be able to share your location, you will need to have GPS activated.

2. The app will then immediately start recording the sound. Listen to the sound of the bird on your computer, so that the BirdNET app can record it on your tablet or smartphone:

Paulo Narciso / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML330707091)

SIDE NOTE: You may click the images to amplify

• 

When you think it’s enough, click on the Pause button.

• 

Using your fingers, indicate where the specific sound you want to identify is.

• 

If you need to record the sound again, click on 1. Record.

• 

After you have indicated which part contains the sound to identify, click Analyze.

• 

The app will show you the bird species it has found. To find out more about them, click on the link. Make sure it is in your language.

• 

If your tablet or smartphone has the iOS operating system, the link may appear in English. If you need to change the language, click on the button in the top left-hand corner of the screen.

• 

• 

Then click on Settings. In Common names, select your language option.

• 

• 

3. When you click on the link, the BirdNET app redirects you to the Wikipedia page of the animal found, so you can learn more about it. This bird you heard is a very colourful migratory bird called the common bee-eater. It’s called that because its favourite food is bees!

• 

To go back, click on the arrow in the top left corner.

• 

4. Click on the button in the top left-hand corner.

• 

Select Show observations.

• 

Here, you can find all the observations you have made, i.e. all the sounds you have already identified through the app. To go back, click on the arrow in the top left-hand corner.

• 

5. Back in the menu, select the Explore your area option.

• 

Here, you can find a list of the most common bird species in your area.

• 

6. Now that you know how BirdNET works, we give you a challenge: identify seven bird species!
We have a black redstart, a wren, a nightingale, a hoopoe, a goldfinch, a white wagtail and a jay. Will you be able to identify them correctly through sound? Record the sound of each one, choose the most distinctive sounds and analyse them. What are these birds?

Lukas Sekelsky / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML33370882)

Pedro Moreira / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML330034511)

Aitor Zabala / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML319217221)

Miguel Rouco / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML32959810)

Paulo Alves / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML323654121)

Jorge Leitão / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML31865452)

Flávio Oliveira / Macaulay Library no Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML332904331)

7. Now you know the sounds of some of the many bird species in existence. Research more about them, and try to find them when you’re walking outdoors!