Bird discoveries for kids—and adults! Bird Song Explorer automatically updates with a real bird from around the world—hear its song, learn fun facts, and connect with nature through playful narration.
▶️ Listen and add to your library
🪶 A Note From Me
After hearing your feedback and taking time to reflect on what makes Bird Song Explorer special, I've decided to move away from using TTS (AI voice). For this card in particular, I realized that its magic comes from real voices, real enthusiasm, and genuine connection to nature.
At first, this change means there will be fewer birds available while I personally record and edit each one. Some tracks will even feature the voices of my boys, Archer (age 5) and Otto (age 3), who were thrilled to help! I wanted this card to feel extra special for them—and for everyone who listens.
Thank you for all your kind feedback and for supporting this project as it continues to grow and evolve.
— Carissa
My Inspiration
How to Use Bird Song Explorer
Simply insert the card into your Yoto Player (or open the card from the Yoto app) and press play! Every day, the card automatically updates with a new bird.
The Experience
When your child plays the card, they'll hear 4 delightful tracks:
1. Welcome, Explorers! A warm welcome with gentle nature sounds
2. Who's Singing Today? Find out which feathered friend you'll learn more about
3. Bird Explorer's Guide Fun, age-appropriate facts about the bird's habits and characteristics
4. Happy Exploring! A playful outro with kid-friendly jokes or challenges
🦆 Note: Listen closely! The bird's genuine call, song, or drum is woven throughout each track.
Tips for Best Experience
• Morning Routine: Make it part of your wake-up routine—each day brings a new feathered friend!
• Go Outside: After listening, look for the featured bird in your garden or local park
• Bird Journal: Keep a notebook to draw and track the birds you've learned about, or discover more about the part of the world they live in
• Seasonal Surprises: Special messages during migration seasons and holidays
Parent Peace of Mind
• Content designed specifically for ages 3-8
• Educational facts primarily sourced from Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• No screen time required—pure audio imagination
• Updates happen automatically
Technical information & Privacy
The following APIs were used to make the Bird Song Explorer magical:
• Xeno-Canto - Supplies bird song recordings from a global database, used to fetch the actual bird audio. I personally review and select each recording, and mix them with the narration using Audacity.
• Yoto API - Manages the smart card content and streaming tracks, used to update card content with bird information and streaming URLs.
• IP Geolocation API - Determines user location from IP address, used to provide location-aware bird selection and facts.
• Google Cloud APIs (Cloud Run, Secret Manager, Cloud Build) - Provides infrastructure for hosting and deploying the application with secure credential management.
• Canva - Used to create the cover art.
Data storage
The application operates as a stateless service, processing each request independently without maintaining user profiles or storing personal data. All personalization happens in real-time based on location and is immediately discarded after content generation.