Book Brew 132: 2 Free AI Tools Every Nature Lover Should Try Outdoors

Ever spot a weird bug, a cool plant, or a colorful bird that looks like something out of a Harry Potter book and wish you knew what it was, without needing a degree in zoology and botany?

Nature Lover + Tech User? You’re Not Alone.

"We contain multitudes."  Walt Whitman

A few things about me you may not know if you are new here:

1. I love spending time out in nature.
2. Taking photos of flowers is one of my favorite things to do (two of my favorites from 2024 below).

^{Photograph by Danielle Griffin of a Gerber Daisy}

^{Photograph by Danielle Griffin of a Garden Cosmo}

1. Learning about all things flora and fauna is incredibly fascinating.

These things don’t exactly scream “tech geek”, but spoiler alert: I love a good AI tool, especially when they turn my everyday nature moments into mini adventures in wonderland.

"The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it." Thich Nhat Hanh

Seek by iNaturalist: Nature’s Shazam

This is a free app for your phone (can be used on either Android or iPhone) helps you identify plants, animals, and yep, even insects with just the use of the app, your phone camera, and location.

How to use it:

• Install the app.
• Turn on your phone’s location (needed to ensure it doesn’t identify a fishing spider in Virginia as a Giant Huntsman from Australia).
• Open the camera icon and start identifying with a live feed.
• Once the app confirms the ID, snap and save it.
• Earn badges for your discoveries (yes, it’s gamified).

I've used this everywhere (from hikes to my tiny deck garden) and it’s seriously addictive.

^{Screenshot of a flower identification I did in September 2024}

Merlin Bird ID: Bird Calls Decoded Like Magic

This is another free phone app available on both Android and iPhone.  This one listens to bird conversations and tells you exactly who’s singing a song to you (like Big Bird Brother, but for birds).  

Here’s how:

• Install the app.
• Turn on your location.
• Step outside.
• Tap record.
• Merlin IDs birds live as they chirp and tweet.
• You can save, download, or share recordings.
• Dive deeper into each bird profile.

^{Screenshot of a recent bird recording I did.}

I introduced this app to both of my parents a while ago, and both use it often.  I use it every now and then, and I’m always amazed at how many different birds I can hear from our densely packed suburban townhome.  

Not All AI Is Skynet (Yet)

"Curiosity is the engine of achievement."  Ken Robinson

These are just two examples of many AI tools out there you can integrate into your time in nature.  AI tools don’t have to be scary and intimidating.  They aren’t all Terminators (yet).  Take some time and explore the other tools out there that can enhance your nature experience and uncover new worlds you never would have discovered otherwise.

Ponder This

1. What would your next nature walk look like if you saw it through the lens of discovery?
2. Are there other everyday hobbies you could enhance with helpful tech?
3. What’s stopping you from mixing curiosity with a little machine magic?

Books/Newsletters

• Quiet - Susan Cain
• The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg
• The Art of Happiness - Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler