Here are resources to help with gardening, birdwatching

On the most recent edition of “Great Day TV,” host Patty Spitler and News 8’s Gina Glaros were joined by Shannon Cagle, the Weekend Gardener, to talk about resources to help people get more out of outdoor activities like gardening and birdwatching.

Cagle says that a lot of what she sees on social media is people asking for help identifying different species of birds or flowers. She suggests using the following apps to help identify birds and plants instead, as she says social media is usually slow to provide answers.

The first app is called Merlin Bird ID. This app allows users to either take a picture of a bird or let the app listen to the bird that you want to identify, like Shazam.

“For instance, I saw a bird in my own landscape and I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Turns out it was a green heron fishing for frogs,” Cagle said. “If you are not sure what you’re hearing or what bird you’re seeing you really should learn about Merlin. It will listen live for you and tell you exactly what the birds are that you’re hearing as they’re singing.”

If you’re curious about what plants might be growing in your garden, Cagle suggests the app Pl@ntNet. This app can help you identify plants just by taking a picture of them.

Summertime also means tick season, according to Cagle. She offers some tips on how to avoid ticks and what to do if you get bitten by one.

Watch the video for more advice!

#WeekendGardener #HelpfulApps #GardenTips #Birdwatching