The best apps for nature lovers – from identifying birdsong to tracking lions

Phones often get the blame for distracting users, but technology can also be a powerful way to connect with the natural world

With a phone at your fingertips, the world is your oyster, or hoopoe, or oak tree. It's now possible to identify everything from mystery animal tracks to elusive birdsong via an app. Beyond that, your sightings could contribute valuable information to scientific studies and conservation efforts around the globe. While phones often get the blame for distracting users from their physical environment, technology can also be a way to connect with the natural world. Here's how.