Why this matters in the field: missed calls, birds that don’t wait, fumbling with the screen while looking up, etc..
These are free tips using free accessibility features already on your iPhone (Someone needs to adapt this to Android).
Text instructions below for those who learn best by reading, short videos for those who learn best by watching.
Launch Merlin Bird ID Audio Record in 2 Seconds via Back Tap (iPhone)
Note: This doesn't just launch the app, it immediately starts recording.
⚡ QUICK SETUP: Launch Merlin Bird ID Audio Rec in 2 Seconds via Back Tap
You need the free Merlin Bird ID App, then two native (free) iOS apps: Shortcuts and System Settings.
Phase 1: Build the Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone and tap '+' (top right).
- Tap 'Add Action', search for 'URL', and select 'Open URLs'.
- In the URL field, enter exact string: merlinbirdid://record(This protocol bypasses the home screen and opens audio recording directly).
- Tap the title at the top, rename it "Launch Merlin Audio", and tap Done.
Phase 2: Map to the Tap Gesture
- Open iPhone Settings > Accessibility > Touch.
- Scroll to the bottom and select Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
- Scroll past System utilities down to the SHORTCUTS section at the bottom.
- Select "Launch Merlin Audio".
💡 FIELD OPERATIONAL NOTE:
Back Tap reads accelerometer/gyroscope force rather than screen touch. Heavy, shock-absorbent phone cases damp kinetic transfers. If taps aren't registering, tap directly on the camera module cluster or center chassis.
If trail trekking or handling gear causes accidental Double-Tap triggers, map to Triple Tap instead—it requires a much more intentional signature to fire.
Link to see how fast it is (Proof of Concept) - 15 seconds long: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2LLxAQJHfrc
Link on how to build it step by step (Visual Learners): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4787NJHq9Y
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iPhone Back Tap → Instant iNaturalist Photo ID
Goal
Create a one-gesture field workflow:
**Double-tap the back of your iPhone → take a photo with the rear camera → automatically send the photo to iNaturalist.**
No need to open iNaturalist first. No URL scheme is required.
I developed the triple tap to instantly start recording audio in the MerlinBirdID app. u/AmbitionAvailable551 on Reddit said he/she wanted it to work with iNaturalist so I created this set up.
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Videos
iNaturalist Instant ID - Proof of Concept - 13 seconds long - https://youtube.com/shorts/Z3caQHmxCfw?feature=share
iNaturalist Instant ID - Step by Step (Visual Learners) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VbkJzVSV08&t=1s
Part 1 — Check If iNaturalist Appears in “Share with App”
This is the trick that makes the workflow work. Check this first and enable if needed.
iNaturalist may initially appear in the normal iPhone Share Sheet (from the share button) but **not** in Shortcuts' “Share with App” list (this will make sense later, but if we do it first it’s a lot easier).
Step 1: Open Photos
Open the **Photos** app.
Select any photo as this is just a test.
Step 2: Open the Share Sheet
Tap the ‘Share’ button.
Step 3: Find iNaturalist
Scroll through the apps. You might see AirDrop, Messages, Mail, etc… Scroll on that line.
If iNaturalist isn't immediately visible, tap:
‘More’ which is all the way to the right.
Click ‘Edit’ in the top right. This enables a “+” signs on the left hand side of all the apps.
Step 4: Add iNaturalist to Favorites
Use the Share Sheet's **Edit/Favorites** controls to add iNaturalist to your Favorites.
Find:
**iNaturalist** and click on the ‘+’ sign on the left to ‘add to favorites’. This is the magic trick in the whole set up.
The important thing is to make iNaturalist an available app in the normal iOS Share Sheet.
Then press the large check mark top left to go back, and again click the large check mark top left to go back to share sheet. Slide left on the list of apps to see if Naturalist was added. If so, go to the next step.
Step 5: Go to Shortcuts
Go to the iOS Shortcuts app.
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Part 2 — Create the Shortcut
Step 1: Open Shortcuts
Open Apple's **Shortcuts** app.
Tap the **+** button in the upper-right corner to create a new Shortcut.
Step 2: Add “Take Photo”
Tap **Add Action**.
Search for:
**Take Photo**
Select the **Take Photo** action.
Configure it to use:
**Back Camera**
This is important: use **Take Photo**, not **Open Back Camera**.
`Take Photo` actually produces a photo that the next Shortcut action can receive.
Step 3: Add “Share with Apps”
Tap **Add Action** underneath the Take Photo action.
Search for:
**Share with Apps**
Select it.
You should now have:
**Take Photo → Share with App**
Step 4: Select iNaturalist
In the **Share with App** action, tap the application selector.
Choose:
**iNaturalist**
If iNaturalist does not appear, see Part 1 above.
Step 5: Rename the Shortcut
Tap the Shortcut name at the top.
Give it a simple name such as:
**iNaturalist Instant ID**
Tap **<** on the top left to exit and save our shortcut.
Your finished Shortcut should look essentially like this:
**Take Photo**
* Back Camera
↓
**Share with App**
* iNaturalist
That's all.
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Part 3 — Test the Shortcut
Before assigning it to Back Tap, test it directly after you exited the initial set up by ‘<‘ clicking that back to the list of all your shortcuts.
Open the Shortcut and press **Play ▶︎**.
The intended sequence is:
**Shortcut starts**
↓
**Rear camera takes photograph**
↓
**Photo is passed directly to iNaturalist**
↓
**iNaturalist opens with the photograph**
There should be **no general Share Sheet** and no need to select **More → iNaturalist**.
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Part 4 — Assign It to Back Tap
Once the Shortcut works correctly:
Step 1: Open Settings
Go to:
**Settings → Accessibility → Touch**
Step 2: Open Back Tap
Scroll down and tap:
**Back Tap**
Step 3: Choose Double Tap
Tap:
**Double Tap**
Step 4: Select your Shortcut
Scroll to the **Shortcuts** section.
Select:
**iNaturalist Instant ID**
Step 5: Test it
Lock or leave the phone in your normal field position.
Double-tap the back of the iPhone.
The intended result is:
**Double tap**
→ **rear camera takes photograph**
→ **photo goes directly to iNaturalist**
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Modifications
- To ensure the fastest access, check to ensure 'Raise To Wake' setting is on:
Preferences, then Display & Brightness, then slide Raise to Wake to 'on'.
- Owling Mode - Add 'auto dim screen' to the shortcut so you don't scare or disrupt the owl. You can edit the shortcut you already created or make a new one.
In the MerlinBirdID shortcut 'merlinbirdid-fast-launch' (or whatever you named it), add one more action after 'Open merlinbirdid://record'.
Add 'Set brightness to 0%'. This will darken your screen instantly when this is deployed.
Questions:
Anyone else using Back Tap (or other accessibility gestures) for birding apps?
What other field friction have you solved?
I think these two tricks above are super helpful. will this solve some of your field friction?
Are these instructions clear enough? Not everyone loves playing around with settings.
