While the Merlin Bird ID app is designed as a portable, real-time identification tool rather than a 24/7 monitoring station, it can be adapted for long-term monitoring, provided you have the right setup to manage its limitations
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Key Considerations for 24/7 Use
Battery Consumption: Merlin is resource-intensive; running "Sound ID" constantly will drain a phone or tablet battery rapidly. You must keep the device plugged into a power source.
Session Time Limits: The app is designed to record in sessions and may stop or prompt you to continue after a certain period.
Storage: Continuous, high-quality audio recording can take up significant device memory.
How to Set Up 24/7 Monitoring
Use a Dedicated Device: Use an old smartphone or tablet to avoid draining your daily phone's battery.
Ensure Constant Power: Plug the device into a wall charger.
Use Offline Packs: Download the "Sound ID" bird pack for your region ahead of time to allow it to operate without internet connectivity.
Keep App Active: Set your screen timeout to "Never" or maximum duration in your device's settings to prevent the screen from locking and pausing the app.
Monitor Sessions: Periodically check the device to save recordings and start new sessions, as the app may stop or lose data if left for too many hours.
Alternatives for 24/7 Monitoring
If you want a true "set it and forget it" 24/7, 365-day monitoring system, the following are designed specifically for this purpose:
BirdWeather PUC: A passive, specialized device that plugs in and records 24/7.
Haikubox: Another, similar, commercially available, 24/7 monitoring device.
BirdNET-Pi: A DIY project that uses a Raspberry Pi computer and the same sound recognition technology as Merlin (but in a continuous, automated way).
For a 24/7 setup in your yard, the BirdWeather PUC or BirdNET-Pi are better alternatives than relying on a mobile app