The Kuwait Environment Protection Society affirmed that “the hobby of birdwatching has witnessed great development in recent years thanks to modern technologies and smart applications, which have contributed to facilitating the identification of birds and documenting their sightings, and have made this hobby more widespread among different age groups, after the observer became able to carry advanced scientific tools in his phone that help him while he is in the field.”.
This was stated by Mohammed Shah, head of the bird monitoring and protection team at the association, who pointed out in this context: “The importance of documenting sightings through global scientific platforms, as this plays a role in supporting knowledge about birds and their habitats, since the accumulation of documented sightings over the years provides important material that researchers and specialists can use to study changes in bird numbers, distribution, and migration seasons. In the end, applications such as eBird and Merlin are no longer just tools to help you find out the name of a bird, but have become an important part of the modern monitoring experience.”.
Shah stated, “Through the phone, the observer can identify the bird and its sound, document its location and the time of sighting, build his personal record, and at the same time contribute to a global database.” He added, “The more observers and documented sightings there are, the more accurate a picture we have of bird life in Kuwait, which supports efforts to study and preserve them for future generations.”.
For his part, Talal Al-Muwaizri, a member of the Bird Monitoring and Protection Team at the Environment Society, pointed out that “the team relies on the eBird application as a main platform for documenting bird sightings, where data is recorded in the field with the location, date, time, number of birds and species that were seen, according to an organized mechanism, so that these records become part of a global database that benefits researchers and specialists in the study of birds, their migration, spread and changing patterns of their existence.”.
Al-Muwaizri added: “One of the most prominent features of eBird is that its use is not limited to Kuwait, but the observer can use it anywhere in the world. When traveling to any country, he can record the birds he sees there and link the observation to its geographical location, date and time, to be added to his global personal record. Thus, over the years, the observer’s account turns into a complete personal archive of his observations around the world, which he can refer to at any time, and know the number of lists he has recorded, the number of species he has seen, the countries and regions in which he has observed the birds, in addition to reviewing his previous observations, their locations and dates.”.
He noted that “this feature gives the hobby another dimension, as the observer can track the development of their experience and field record year after year, whether inside or outside Kuwait. Alongside eBird, the Merlin Bird ID app comes as a global and important support tool for observers, especially beginners.” He added that “the app doesn’t just display the bird’s name, but also provides its image, scientific name, and information that helps in identifying it. Furthermore, by determining the user’s geolocation, it can identify birds likely to be found in the area surrounding the user. One of the most important features offered by Merlin is the ability to identify birds by their calls. The user can record the sound in the field, and the app will suggest the species it hears. This technology has greatly helped in identifying birds that are difficult to see, especially those hidden among trees or dense vegetation. The user can also photograph the bird or add a photo of it and use the app to help identify its species.”.
Al-Muwaizri continued, saying: “In addition to the possibility of listening to recordings of the sounds of different species, including chirping sounds, calls, and others, which helps the observer to learn the sounds of birds and compare them to what he hears during his field trips, the importance of Merlin also lies in the fact that it lowers the barrier to entry into the world of bird observation; a person does not need, at the beginning, prior knowledge of the names of dozens or hundreds of species.
When someone sees an unfamiliar bird or hears a strange sound, they can use the app to make an initial identification and then gradually develop their knowledge with more fieldwork. This ease of use benefits not only birdwatchers but also bird photographers who might be photographing a species they don't recognize. He explained that "this technology encourages people with no prior experience with birds to become interested in them and learn about the species around them, making the technology a learning tool and a new entry point into the hobby of birdwatching. In Kuwait, these apps have played a clear role in increasing interest in birdwatching, raising environmental awareness, and encouraging enthusiasts to document their observations systematically, which contributes to increasing the amount of data available on migratory and resident birds in the country.".
The member of the bird monitoring and protection team at the Kuwait Environment Protection Society concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the application “helps in documenting rare species and monitoring changes in their spread and seasons of appearance. The combination of technology and field work has also contributed to attracting young age groups to this hobby.” He added, “The phone that is used daily has become a tool through which we can discover the biodiversity around us, identify birds and their sounds, and save and share observations within a global database.”.
