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eBird to SMS integrations

When a rare bird shows up near you on eBird, IFTTT sends you an SMS right away. You'll know about sightings in your area before they're old news, so you can grab your binoculars and head out.
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Automate eBird and SMS from your AI assistant

Ask Cursor to find rare birds nearby and create eBird applets with IFTTT MCP.

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Create your own eBird and SMS 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.

8 triggers, queries, and actions

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

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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.
Send IFTTT a tagged SMS by adding a hashtag symbol anywhere in the message (e.g. #IFTTT).

Send IFTTT any SMS

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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 every time you send any SMS to your IFTTT phone number.

Find birding hotspots nearby

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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

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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

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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.

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
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.
Send IFTTT a tagged SMS by adding a hashtag symbol anywhere in the message (e.g. #IFTTT).

Send IFTTT any SMS

Pro icon
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 every time you send any SMS to your IFTTT phone number.

Send me an SMS

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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.

Build an automation in seconds!

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

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How to connect to a eBird automation

Find an automation using eBird

Find an automation to connect to, or create your own!

Connect IFTTT to your eBird account

Securely connect the Applet services to your respective accounts.

Finalize and customize your Applet

Review trigger and action settings, and click connect. Simple as that!
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More on eBird and SMS

About eBird

eBird and IFTTT let you get alerts when rare birds show up near you or at your favorite spots.
Connect eBird

About SMS

SMS and IFTTT let you receive text messages on your phone when things happen, or trigger automations by texting IFTTT.
Connect SMS

More integrations with SMS