Instant eBird Alerts via Text

Streamline your eBird alerts with simple email filters and Telegram notifications

Tired of missing out on important bird sightings because your inbox is cluttered? Discover how to create a streamlined notification system using Gmail filters and Telegram to ensure you never miss an eBird alert again.

By Gates Dupont

May 17, 2024

Birders everywhere know the thrill of receiving an eBird alert about a rarity or a bird they haven’t seen yet in their region. However, with inboxes overflowing with emails, eBird’s critical alerts sent via email can easily get lost in the clutter. If you find yourself sifting through countless emails to spot those valuable eBird notifications, it's time to simplify your alert system.

In this guide, I'll walk you through a straightforward solution to ensure you never miss an eBird alert again. By creating a filter in Gmail to label all eBird notifications and integrating Gmail with Telegram, you can receive instant text alerts about the birds you care most about.

To get started, you'll need to have eBird alerts already set up with the alerts sent to a Gmail account, and you’ll need an iPhone with Telegram installed. While this guide focuses on iPhone users, it should work similarly for Android and other smartphones. Follow these easy steps to set up your personalized birding notification system and stay ahead in your birdwatching adventures!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Create a Filter in Gmail

  1. Open Gmail on your computer and log in to your account.

  2. In the search bar at the top, click on the downward arrow to open the search options.

  3. In the "From" field, enter the email address used by eBird for alerts (ebird-alert@birds.cornell.edu).

  4. Click on "Create filter" at the bottom of the search options window.

  5. Check the box next to "Apply the label" and choose "New label...".

  6. Enter a name for the label, such as "eBird alerts", and click "Create".

  7. Click "Create filter".

Step 2: Set Up the Gmail Bot in Telegram

  1. Open Telegram on your device and click the new message icon in the top right.

  2. Search for the Gmail Bot and select it.

  3. Click on the bot and start a chat by clicking "Start" or typing “/start”.

  4. The bot will provide a link to authenticate your Gmail account. Click on the link and follow the instructions to sign in to your Gmail account.

  5. After authentication, return to Telegram and click "Allow" to grant the bot access to your Gmail account.

  6. In the chat with the Gmail Bot, type "/settings" and click “Whitelist labels.”

  7. The Gmail Bot will respond asking you to specify labels to allow. Select “eBird Alerts”, then at the bottom click “back”. If you just made the label in gmail, it might take some time to show up in Telegram’s Gmail Bot.

Step 3: Configure iPhone Settings for Telegram Notifications

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

  2. Scroll down and select "Telegram".

  3. Tap "Notifications".

  4. Ensure that "Allow Notifications" is toggled on.

  5. Customize your notification settings to your preference. You can choose the type of alerts you want to receive (e.g., sounds, banners, badges) and whether to show notifications on the lock screen.

Final Product

By following these steps, you'll transform the way you receive eBird alerts. With each important bird sighting notification arriving directly on your phone through Telegram, you'll never miss a beat in your birding adventures! Say goodbye to a cluttered inbox and hello to a more organized, efficient, and enjoyable birding experience.