GoKawiilMegan Szostak, 26, was always a "bird kid".
The urge to watch and appreciate the world around her - and avians flitting in and out of it - has been ingrained in her since childhood, when she was given her grandfather's binoculars after he died.
Armed with this and a field guide in her home of San Francisco, she set about identifying birds from an early age.
But in recent years, her birding toolbelt has expanded to include something far more modern - an app.
"I had friends who probably wouldn't describe themselves as birders, but more just curious about nature and the world around them, recommend it to me," Megan said.
She is one of many millions of people who have downloaded Merlin Bird ID, which claims to be able to identify almost any bird by its look, song or call.
"I think that it's been a really great tool that I've integrated into my birding routine," she said.
And whether down to heatwaves sending more people outdoors, or younger people delving into birding, these apps are booming in popularity.
Chief among them is Merlin Bird ID, which was developed by Cornell University's Lab of Ornithology.
It has been downloaded 12 million times in 2026 alone, according to director Jessie Barry - who says it has had 42 million downloads overall.
... continue reading