Often You Hear, but Cannot See
Though there are very few experts in this area, identifying birds by songs and calls is a critical skill for the
avid bird watcher. This is particularly true in when watching birds in low visibility environments like forests.
Often, if the birder cannot identify a bird by sound, she cannot identify the bird at all. Despite the clear value
in developing this audio skill set, a relatively small percentage of birders can claim true proficiency.
As with most pursuits, study and practice are the key to progress. There are numerous tools available to help
the birder in this area. Like the visual field guide, there are CD's that provide a similar resource for songs and calls.
These CD's include a subset of the North American species database, featuring typical songs and calls for each
species. Once you've spent time working with a CD, you will find yourself recognizing common songs as you hear birds
in your area.
In addition to CD's, there are software products that provide a more interactive training experience. These products
will play bird songs and then ask you to identify the bird. The interaction allows you to test your progress and learn
from your mistakes.
As you will see in our new products section, a potentially revolutionary product
for this area will be released soon (March 2005). This product claims to identify songs and calls automatically, using
technology derived from speech recognition. We have not yet tested this product, but are excited to see how it works.
Products to Help You Use Your Ears
-
A Field Guide to Western (or Eastern) Bird Songs (Peterson Audios)
Published in cooperation with the well-regarded Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Organized to work well
with the companion, printed series of Peterson field guides.
- Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs
Simple, effective format. The narrator names the bird and then the bird song/call is played.
-
An Indoor Birdwatching Field Trip DVD Video Bird and Bird Song Guide
A DVD that helps bird watchers learn to identify birds by eye and ear. Watch and interact with this
DVD on your television or PC.
- Thayer Birding Software
Comprehensive, desktop-based bird watching software that includes songs and calls for many species.
As you browse the software, you can combine your learning of songs with other visual identification skills.
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Birdsong Identiflyer
An innovative product for learning songs at home or comparing songs you hear while in the field. This
is a small, handheld device that takes interchangeable cards, each with a selection of bird songs and calls.
You can add to your collection of cards as you travel or want to learn about new birds.
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