This is a review of the app, not the hardware. As of April ‘25, I found the app lacking in features and buggy. The IDs are truly exciting but I need to be able to verify them: the sonogram is coming (has been for a while?), but at least the IDs should have their associated sound clips that are uploaded to the database. (This would also allow me to check whether human speech is really obscured in the uploaded clips, because it’s loud and clear on the app.) Filtering the ID list is buggy (species appear and disappear!) and crashes the app sometimes. It’s impossible not to compare this app to Merlin—wasn’t collaboration possible?? Most of the missing features seem to be wheel reinvention.

I have had a Terra station for over 8 months, and keep checking monthly or so expecting an update to fix the many issues, but still no joy. Now the app crashes whenever I tap to monitor to my station. Other major issues are that the app does not offer all of the functionality of the website (like account settings or tech support or… and doesn’t point to the website, you need to figure that out yourself, and nothing mentions the related website Featherworks, which offers more options available nowhere else) but the websites now do not recognize my account, so I am stuck. I still support the concept, but very frustrated because the execution is so weak, and currently broken.

Terra has been a pioneer in developing a home device that monitors overhead and nearby birds by both call and by any tracking devices on them. As with any pioneering device there were teething problems both in getting the device out and developing the software. But my device has been working now for a year and the latest version of the iPhone app is really slick. And I can monitor the device on my iPad and my Windows computer browser as well. Definitely worth exploring to understand the birds around your home.

Newest app adds more functionality and fixed a lot of the previous issues