Learning with birdJam
Most birders find a specific bird song in 15 seconds or less. But that assumes they know which bird they are looking to find.
For unknown bird songs, it may take a couple of minutes to zero in on the correct song as "sound alikes" are considered and visual, behavioral and habitat clues are analyzed. That being said, sometimes we ID an unknown almost immediately as we quickly scroll through alternatives. Our list of unknowns is getting shorter and shorter, thanks to birdJam. You just pick a habitat or family group, eliminate the birds you know....and, there it is!
After we go through the process of finding the correct crystal-clear bird song on our birdJam iPods, the bird songs we identify seem to stick in our minds. We find that the next time we hear that same song, we are more likely to identify the bird song faster and more easily. The definitive bird photography further supplements are knowledge for expert, intermediate and beginning birders.
Here's how we use our birdJam in the field:
- We begin by studying the habitat in which we plan to do our birding by listening to that habitat's playlist in advance.
- When we hear a familiar bird in the field, we use the birdJam iPod for confirmation.
- When we hear an unfamiliar bird, since the list is shortened by the birds we know already—and the habitat playlist includes only what we are likely to hear—we quickly winnow down the suspects until we hear on our birdJam what we're hearing nearby.
- Then we know what to look for with our binoculars! We use sound to help us find and see the birds.
But there are two sides to studying bird songs; field study and home study. Repetition is the key to remembering. If you recognize a voice on the phone or across a room at a party you know for sure you can do this.
Pick a habitat or a family or pick 10 birds you want to study. Do it in increments. Repeat the sounds from your birdJam iPod until you begin to recognize the majority. Take a short break and go over them again.
It won't be long before they begin to come easier and easier. When you're in the field you have this conditioning behind you and you gain confidence quickly in finding a bird that is singing or at least knowing what is singing or calling. It really works.
You may also enjoy reading "How To Learn Bird Songs" by Georgann Schmalz at http://www.learnbirdsongs.com/howto.php and her audio insights in "Bird Song Mnemonics and Phonetics" at http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2965/mnemonic.htm
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