A scarlet tanager perched high in the canopy was invisible until a phone alert revealed its presence using artificial intelligence.
The Merlin Bird ID app listened to forest sounds, identified the bird’s call and sent a real-time alert, thrilling a casual hiker.
Using AI to spot wildlife is becoming popular among younger generations, with TikTok and Instagram full of surprise nature discoveries.
“Now we’re seeing 20-and-30-year-olds sharing finds online,” said Merlin’s manager Drew Weber of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
The free app works like a real-life Pokémon Go, with users adding species to a growing “life list” of sightings.
NFL quarterback Sam Darnold joined the trend, posting videos identifying birds like mockingbirds, showing how widely the app resonates.
Merlin isn’t perfect — low-frequency sounds and mimic birds can confuse the AI, but experts say accuracy keeps improving.
Other AI tools, built into smartphones, can identify plants and creatures, though they lack the social engagement offered by dedicated apps.
iNaturalist, another free app, focuses on building a global community contributing data for biodiversity and conservation research.
“Users are engines for conservation action,” said iNaturalist director Scott Loarie, highlighting how citizen science helps track wildlife loss worldwide.
Some users experiment too far, tasting wild berries after using AI for identification, which experts strongly warn against.
Even so, these apps spark joy and curiosity, encouraging more people to pay attention to everyday plants and animals.
They also help identify dangerous species like poison ivy or invasive lanternflies, turning smartphone cameras into vital conservation tools.