[bcbirdclub] eNews: Identify Your Bird with Computer Vision--Try It Out!

  • From: "Jerry Thornhill" <mjt@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2015 07:36:13 -0400

Here’s something from Cornell that’s fun to mess with. Sort of facial
recognition software for birds. While it got a number of birds I tried
correct, it did fail to identify a male Blue-winged Teal (photo attached). The
web page says the program “know” about 400 birds.



Jerry



From: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
[mailto:cornellbirds=cornell.edu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Cornell
Lab of Ornithology
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 8:25 AM
To: birder@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: eNews: Identify Your Bird with Computer Vision--Try It Out!






In this issue: ID birds with help from computer vision; go behind the scenes
with a ferruginous family and with a mother owl who saves her chicks from a
snake.


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Cornell Lab eNews


June 2015






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Photo: Blackburnian Warbler by Christopher L. Wood

Bird watchers helped teach the computer to recognize Blackburnian Warblers by
clicking on parts of the bird in training images. The computer vision system is
powered by the Visipedia project from Caltech and Cornell Tech, and uses eBird
data to customize results by location and date. Photo by Christopher L. Wood.




Introducing Merlin Bird Photo ID


We've been working on a new bird photo ID feature for the Merlin app, and we're
ready for you try it on our test website! Just upload a photo, click on the
bird’s bill, eye, and tail, and let computer vision help you ID the bird. It
currently recognizes 400 common North American bird species. Because it's
powered by machine learning techniques, it gets “smarter” the more people use
it. Help us improve the accuracy so we can add it to the Merlin app some day!
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Try Photo ID.



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Photo: Yellow Warbler by Brian McCaffrey

Yellow Warbler by
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Brian McCaffrey via
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Birdshare,


Warbler Guide App: Five Neat Tricks You Won’t Find in a Book


Rotate a warbler in 3D, distinguish similar-sounding songs with spectrograms,
or identify a warbler using clues from plumage and song at the same time. With
this new app from The Warbler Guide authors Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle,
ID tips leap off the page onto your mobile device in a whole new way.
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Read our review.



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Photo from Wild Birds Unlimited cam

These three youngsters will look like Mom some day. Can you name the species?
Photo from 2014 Wild Birds Unlimited cam.


Which Species Is This?


The charismatic family pictured above starred on
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one of our Bird Cams in Indiana, sponsored by Wild Birds Unlimited. The downy
youngsters haven’t yet grown the feathers that will reveal the markings that
give them their name. Can you guess “hoo" they are?
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Check your answer.



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Photo: Ferruginous Hawk family

Learn how the Cornell Lab's Gerrit Vyn captured intimate views of this
Ferruginous Hawk family in The Sagebrush Sea.


Behind the Scenes with The Sagebrush Sea: Filming Ferruginous Hawks


In this
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behind-the-scenes video, enjoy the antics of this Ferruginous Hawk family as
cinematographer Gerrit Vyn shares his insights about these birds and what it
took to film them for The Sagebrush Sea documentary on PBS Nature. If you
missed the broadcast, you can
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watch the complete episode online.



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Photo: Barn Owl reacts to snake at nest

Dottie reacts as a snake enters the box, shown on a second cam in the inset at
top right.


Barn Owl Mom’s Quick Action Saves Nestlings from Snake


When a Texas rat snake enters a nest box in the middle of the night, it’s bad
news for the four chicks on our Barn Owl cam. Fortunately, mom Dottie saves the
day by nabbing the intruder—then tucks her young safely beneath her. National
Geographic Online interviewed the Cornell Lab’s Charles Eldermire and showcased
the video.
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See the story.


Cyrano of the Jungle: Learn about the Great Hornbill and the artist’s insights
that bring it to life on the new mural in the Cornell Lab’s Visitor Center.
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See video and story on National Geographic Online.

June eBirder of the Month Challenge: June is a crucial time in the lives of
many birds as they raise their young. Record breeding data on at least 20 eBird
checklists for a chance to win a pair of ZEISS Conquest binoculars, courtesy
of sponsor ZEISS.
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Learn more.

Have You Seen a Bird’s Nest?
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Learn how to monitor nests safely and share your observations with NestWatch.

Enjoy a Bird Festival This Summer:
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Choose your destination from our Bird Festivals webpage.



Join the Cornell Lab and Get Beautiful Window Clings with Our Thanks



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Illustration: Rufous Hummingbird by Benlin Alexander


This Rufous Hummingbird window
cling is one of five you’ll receive with
your membership. Art by Benlin Alexander,

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Bartels Science Illustration Intern
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.


Did you know the Cornell Lab of Ornithology relies on support from members to
help us improve the understanding and protection of birds? If you’re not
already a member, we invite you to
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join today!

As a member, you’ll know that your support is helping to advance scientific
discovery and conservation for birds. You’ll receive a limited-edition set of
window clings including beautiful hand-painted portraits of a Rufous
Hummingbird, Black-capped Chickadee, Western Bluebird, and American Goldfinch.
We’ll also send you our award-winning magazine, Living Bird.
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Join us today to enhance your enjoyment of birds while giving back to
conservation.



Wow, 6,088 Bird Species on Global Big Day!


The Cornell Lab of Ornithology gives a heartfelt thanks to everyone who
participated in the Global Big Day on May 9 by submitting a bird checklist to
eBird or by making a donation for conservation. The results were phenomenal:
more than half the world’s bird species tallied in 24 hours, and more than
$300,000 raised for conservation, with 133 countries participating! We were
inspired by this show of bird diversity, passion, and generosity from bird
watchers around the world.
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Read the story.



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Illustration: Bird nest on guitar by Jennifer Ross

“The Nest of a Songbird." Painting by
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Jennifer Ross.


Funky Nest Contest Ends June 30


Have you noticed any nests in your neighborhood? Win a mini-iPad, binoculars,
Pennington bird feeders, or other prizes by submitting your photos or artwork
for cutest, funkiest, funniest, or most inconvenient nests.
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See guidelines and check out the entries so far.



Attention Educators: Check Out These Resources



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Birds Without Borders book cover



New! Birds Without Borders


This new book from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Hobart and William Smith
Colleges was created for middle- and high-school teachers interested in
engaging students in local and international biodiversity conservation issues
using spatial and quantitative data to reveal trends, make predictions, create
management plans, and present results. Two lessons are available as free
downloads to help students learn about the ecological roles of birds and
conservation strategies.
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Learn more.




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BirdSleuth Summer Fun Pack


Use the
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BirdSleuth Summer Fun Pack to inspire nature-based fun and learning all summer
long. Start your kids on outdoor adventures.
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Purchase this pack for $29.95.




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Writing and Art Contest for Young Nature Investigators


This summer we're collecting kid-created art, writing, and photography to
publish in our student magazine and to display at the Cornell Lab. We also
invite educators to share photos of kids in action for a chance to be
recognized.
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Learn more and enter online.




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  • » [bcbirdclub] eNews: Identify Your Bird with Computer Vision--Try It Out! - Jerry Thornhill