Pick out nine birds from your Merlin list and have students draw the birds on their bingo cards, one in each box. Now that you have your list of local birds, you can make your bird bingo cards! Have your kids make a 3×3 grid on a blank piece of paper (see image below). This list of birds is created from years of citizen-science data from birders just like you! This will bring up a list of birds that are common in your area on that date in the order you are most likely to see them. Next set your current date and location and choose the option ‘Most likely’. Open the Merlin Bird ID app and click ‘Explore Birds.’ Use the icon in the upper-right hand corner and filter by ‘Likely Birds’. Once it has been verified once, you will not need to verify again.

If you’re working with students under 13 you can use a classroom or teacher email. Teacher’s Tip! When you first download Merlin it needs to verify and email. To learn more about and download the Merlin app download visit. It provides an easy-to-use interface that identifies birds with five simple questions and allows you to browse common birds in your area. Merlin is a free app from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that helps you discover your local birds and build your bird ID skills in the field.

Bingo nature