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eBird Find the nearest sightings of a species. SMS Send me an SMS. Google Assistant Activate scene.

Send nearest eBird sighting via SMS

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How this automation works

Send the closest eBird sighting for a species to your phone via SMS. When you say "Ok Google, activate [Scene Name]", the applet asks eBird for the nearest sightings of the species you set and sends the top nearby result as an SMS. Great for birders who want quick field updates from eBird using Google Assistant and SMS. Note: Customize the message to fit your tone.

If
Google Assistant icon
Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
This Trigger activates a named scene when you say "Ok Google, activate [Scene Name]".
SceneName ActivatedAt
With
eBird icon
Query
A query lets your Applet retrieve extra data that isn't included in the trigger, so that your automation can include more complete or useful information.
This query returns the nearest places where someone reported the bird species you name. The nearest place comes first.
CommonName ScientificName HowMany LocationName Latitude Longitude ObservationDate ChecklistId ChecklistUrl
Then
SMS icon
Action
An action is the task your Applet carries out after the trigger occurs. It defines what happens as the result of your automation and completes the workflow.
This Action will send an SMS to your mobile phone.
message

Services used in this Applet

Create your own workflow

Create custom workflows effortlessly by selecting triggers, queries, and actions. With IFTTT, it's simple: “If this” trigger happens, “then that” action follows. Streamline tasks and save time with automated workflows that work for you.

9 triggers, queries, and actions

Activate scene

Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
This Trigger activates a named scene when you say "Ok Google, activate [Scene Name]".

New bird observation at a hotspot

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports a bird at the eBird hotspot you choose. The results include birds reported at sub-locations of that hotspot.

New rare bird reported nearby

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports a rare or unusual bird near the location you choose. eBird marks a report as notable when the species is rare in that area, or appears at an unusual time of year.

New sighting of a species nearby

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports the bird species you name near the location you choose. eBird returns only the most recent sighting from each place, so each place gives you one sighting.

Send IFTTT an SMS tagged

Pro icon
Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
Send IFTTT a tagged SMS by adding a hashtag symbol anywhere in the message (e.g. #IFTTT).

Send IFTTT any SMS

Pro icon
Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
This Trigger fires every time you send any SMS to your IFTTT phone number.

Find birding hotspots nearby

Pro plus icon
Query
A query lets your Applet retrieve extra data that isn't included in the trigger, so that your automation can include more complete or useful information.
This query returns birding hotspots near the location you choose. Use the hotspot ID it returns in the New bird observation at a hotspot trigger.

Find the nearest sightings of a species

Pro plus icon
Query
A query lets your Applet retrieve extra data that isn't included in the trigger, so that your automation can include more complete or useful information.
This query returns the nearest places where someone reported the bird species you name. The nearest place comes first.

Send me an SMS

Pro icon
Action
An action is the task your Applet carries out after the trigger occurs. It defines what happens as the result of your automation and completes the workflow.
This Action will send an SMS to your mobile phone.

Activate scene

Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
This Trigger activates a named scene when you say "Ok Google, activate [Scene Name]".

Find birding hotspots nearby

Pro plus icon
Query
A query lets your Applet retrieve extra data that isn't included in the trigger, so that your automation can include more complete or useful information.
This query returns birding hotspots near the location you choose. Use the hotspot ID it returns in the New bird observation at a hotspot trigger.

Find the nearest sightings of a species

Pro plus icon
Query
A query lets your Applet retrieve extra data that isn't included in the trigger, so that your automation can include more complete or useful information.
This query returns the nearest places where someone reported the bird species you name. The nearest place comes first.

New bird observation at a hotspot

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports a bird at the eBird hotspot you choose. The results include birds reported at sub-locations of that hotspot.

New rare bird reported nearby

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports a rare or unusual bird near the location you choose. eBird marks a report as notable when the species is rare in that area, or appears at an unusual time of year.

New sighting of a species nearby

Polling trigger
Polling Applets run after IFTTT reaches out to the trigger service and finds a new trigger event. These trigger checks occur every 5 minutes for Pro and Pro+ users, and every hour for Free users.
This trigger fires when someone reports the bird species you name near the location you choose. eBird returns only the most recent sighting from each place, so each place gives you one sighting.

Send IFTTT an SMS tagged

Pro icon
Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
Send IFTTT a tagged SMS by adding a hashtag symbol anywhere in the message (e.g. #IFTTT).

Send IFTTT any SMS

Pro icon
Realtime trigger
Realtime Applets run after the trigger service notifies IFTTT of a new trigger event. Since IFTTT is notified proactively of new trigger events, realtime Applets normally run within a few seconds of a trigger event occurring.
This Trigger fires every time you send any SMS to your IFTTT phone number.

Send me an SMS

Pro icon
Action
An action is the task your Applet carries out after the trigger occurs. It defines what happens as the result of your automation and completes the workflow.
This Action will send an SMS to your mobile phone.

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You can add delays, queries, and more actions in the chat.

More on these services

About SMS

Get important notifications on your phone via SMS. This service has a cap of 100 SMS messages per month for users in the US and Canada and 10 per month for those outside of North America. To avoid having Applets paused until the next month if you hit the limit, try the Notifications service. Some carriers outside of the US are not supported yet (learn more here). Please note: Messages sent must adhere to IFTTT's message guidelines.

Explore SMS

More integrations with SMS

About eBird

eBird is a free platform from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology where birders log and explore bird sightings. Launched in 2002, it gathers hundreds of millions of observations a year from volunteers around the world into one of the largest biodiversity databases. Anyone who watches birds can record checklists, track personal lists, and browse sightings, hotspots, and species maps anywhere on Earth. Visit eBird.

Explore eBird

About Google Assistant

Create custom voice commands for your Google Assistant. Available on Android, iOS and Google Home devices. Get more details here.

Explore Google Assistant

More integrations with Google Assistant

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