Birdsong apps can be confusing for real birds

By Rory Boothe

Posted April 12, 2022

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D: Hey Yaël, I’ve got my binoculars.

Y: Me too, Don. We’re ready to go birding!

D: And I hope we’ll catch a peek at a Purple Finch. It’s been elusive this year, but I’m feeling lucky today.

Y: These days some birders are trying to bypass luck; they’re attracting elusive birds with playback apps that identify, record, and mimic the sounds and signals of thousands of species of birds.

D: Bird-song apps were designed for field use, but mostly to help birders learn particular songs, not attract birds. Throughout the year, birds need to strike a balance between gathering resources and expending them while foraging or nesting. Repeatedly or relentlessly playing decoy sounds of potential rivals or mates can distract territorial birds from those important duties and cause a lot of undue stress.

Y: This can keep birds from pressing matters, like feeding their young. That’s alarming for endangered bird populations, one example being the European nightjar that suffered from major habitat loss in the 1980s. The Dorset Wildlife Trust warns that repeated playback from bird apps can confuse nightjars and other birds in their busy breeding seasons and waste time better spent mating and nesting.

D: But some researchers say that excessive caution is premature and point out that there are more pressing threats that birds face, like habitat loss and invasive species. An easy rule of thumb is not to use playback apps in places where crowds of people go to watch birds, such as reserves.

Y: In any case, if you’re a birder, exercise discretion: use binoculars to get your best close-ups, and power down technology if it puts you between a bird and its duties.

Birds like the Purple Finch can be elusive for active birdwatchers, so many turn to apps to catch sight of this species. (Stan Lupo / flickr)

What all do you need to go birdwatching? Maybe binoculars, comfortable clothes for the weather, and some luck on your side to catch a glimpse of your favorite bird.

These days some birders are trying to bypass luck; they’re attracting elusive birds with playback apps that identify, record, and mimic the sounds and signals of thousands of species of birds.

Birdsong apps were designed for field use, but mostly to help birders learn particular songs, not attract birds. Throughout the year, birds need to strike a balance between gathering resources and expending them while foraging or nesting. Repeatedly or relentlessly playing decoy sounds of potential rivals or mates can distract territorial birds from those important duties and cause a lot of undue stress.

This can keep birds from pressing matters, like feeding their young. That’s alarming for endangered bird populations, one example being the European nightjar that suffered from major habitat loss in the 1980s. The Dorset Wildlife Trust warns that repeated playback from bird apps can confuse nightjars and other birds in their busy breeding seasons and waste time better spent mating and nesting.

But some researchers say that excessive caution is premature and point out that there are more pressing threats that birds face, like habitat loss and invasive species. An easy rule of thumb is not to use playback apps in places where crowds of people go to watch birds, such as reserves.

In any case, if you’re a birder, exercise discretion: use binoculars to get your best close-ups, and power down technology if it puts you between a bird and its duties.

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