Tracee Herbaugh lives in the Boston area of Massachusetts. She thought she was alone in her backyard recently when she used the Merlin Bird ID app. She learned by listening that she was surrounded by more than 12 kinds of birds.

“Two birds identified by the app, veery (画眉鸟) and great homed owl, even had a red dot next to their names. The red dot means it is an unusual sighting.” Herbaugh wrote, “Who knew these birds could be in one yard?”

Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the maker of Merlin Bird ID. The app was released in 2014. At first, the app only identified birds by their photos through Photo ID. The user answered a series of questions about the photo to help identify the bird, such as date, area, color, and size. The app became popular during the pandemic, when people increasingly wanted to be outdoors.

In 2021, Cornell Lab added Sound ID to identify birds by their sound. In the United States alone, Merlin’s Sound ID can identify over 700 kinds of birds. More than 7 million people now use the Merlin Bird ID worldwide.

Alli Smith works on the Merlin project at Cornell Lab. Smith said bird watching by sound “opens up a whole new world” “Even if you cannot see the birds,” he added, “you can hear their beautiful songs and know they’re sharing your neighborhood.”

More than birds, Herbaugh said the app also helped her reconnect with people across the country. When Herbaugh shared her bird list on social media, two childhood friends who also used the app messaged her about it. Her relative in Montana shared a list of birds. And even her young children now quickly go for the app when they hear an unfamiliar bird call.

Herbaugh has identified 45 birds on her list so far. She said now her children are the ones driving her to get more on the bird list.

【小题1】What does a red dot next to a bird’s name mean?

A．The bird is rarely seen.	B．The bird is endangered.
C．This bird is a new species.	D．The bird is beneficial to crops.

【小题2】How did the app perform its functions initially?

A．By recording bird sounds.	B．By recognizing images of birds.
C．By asking experts online.	D．By tracking movements of birds.

【小题3】What does the author intend to tell us in paragraph 6?

A．Another way of protecting birds.	B．The popularity of recording bird calls.
C．The enjoyment of listening to birds.	D．Another benefit of the Merlin Bird ID app.

【小题4】Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．App Identifies Birds by Sound	B．App Gets Kids Interested in Birds
C．Old App Gains New Reputation	D．Birds May Hide in Your Yard