Dear birdJammers...

Welcome to the latest edition of the sporadic birdJam Online Newsletter! By the way, past editions of birdJam newsletters are full of tips and information.

HeadsUp Sparrows App Available in iTunes Store

birdJam HeadsUp Sparrows has joined the new family-specific apps for download from the iTunes Store.

This handy new field app for iPod Touch and iPhone is similar to birdJam HeadsUp Warblers except it focuses on the 47 species of the Sparrows Family in Eastern and Western North America. The app helps you quickly identify sparrows in the field:

What does the bird look like?
What does the bird sound like?
Should it be there at this time of year?

The key elements are cleverly organized to allow fast comparison by sight, sound or range map. You quickly select species by looking at photographs arranged by similarity.

Or select birds by tapping a sound characteristic such as "buzzy" or "complex with trill." Then, narrow your selection by comparing range maps and sound snippets. Once you've selected the species you want to compare, drill down to details about each bird. Detailed photos are included for male, female and some alternative plumage.

You'll especially like the thoughtful organization of multiple song/sound/chip tracks for each species, with up to 3 minutes of sounds for a species. You know they're good because they're from the famed Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

See our birdJam HeadsUp Sparrows description, then head over to iTunes to purchase and download birdJam HeadsUp Sparrows for just $7.99. It is time to start getting ready for Spring Migration 2011!

birdJam Logo Gets An Update

Have you noticed that the birdJam logo has been "spiffed up" and modernized a bit? Charlie does a great job of keeping up on all the latest design trends, as well as editing songs, photos, creating advertising, newsletters, etc. We like it, and hope you do as well!

HeadsUp Warblers 1.5 Available in iTunes Store

You'll be delighted to learn that the latest update to birdJam HeadsUp Warblers now contains female and some alternate plumage photos. Here is an example of the Hooded Warbler showing the Male, Female and Immature.

Note that the controls to see the photos are immediately available in the upper-left corner of the photograph so you don't have to jump to different pages.

Learn Bird Songs available on birdJam web site

In case you haven't discovered it, birdJam posts lots of bird songs online at our Learn Bird Songs page, where you can start listening and learning right on the internet! We've even had email from teachers who use the songs in their classrooms to get students interested in birds. Note that the warbler songs are the extended versions from the new birdJam HeadsUp Warblers app (from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

birdJam Maker Replacement Downloads

If your computer crashes or you want to update your birdJam Maker installation to the latest version, remember that you can always get the latest version. You'll need your email address and birdJam Maker serial number.

birdJam Maker 4.1 Now Available from birdjam.com

birdJam Maker 4.1 is available for download from www.birdjam.com/upgrade. All your need is your email address and serial number.

Jay changed some of the "Options" on the main birdJam Maker screen so that it is even easier to run birdJam Maker on any Mac or Windows computer and then download the formatted songs to any type of iPod or iPhone. He also did a bit of "housekeeping" on Western songs and photos of frogs and toads. Enjoy!

birdJam: The App 1.0.8 Available in iTunes Store

If you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you can download and install a new version of birdJam: The App. This companion to birdJam Maker is FREE and available from the iTunes Store.

birdJam: The App adds range maps (from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology) an easy-to-use interface, and learning tools such as a quiz to build and test your skills.

See the birdJam Bulletin May 2010 to learn more and to access the app for download from iTunes. Version 1.0.8 is even more reliable and will now work with a larger array of speakers and other accessories.

birdJam and iPad

We've had lots of questions about whether birdJam is going to support the Apple iPad. As a matter of fact, birdJam: The App and our other birdJam Apps do run on the Apple iPad, albeit in small screen mode.

In both small screen and 2x mode, the songs, photographs and range maps are all perfectly crisp and clear. In 2x mode on the iPad, however, all birdJam apps display the buttons and text "fuzzy" because they are designed for use on an iPod. (Outside!) (We haven't yet noticed anyone using an iPad outside while birding!) (Please send us pictures of this!)

New iMainGoX Speaker Available

The new iMainGoX speaker is now available for $69.99. The really great aspect of this new model is that the controls are on the OUTSIDE so you can instantly turn your speaker on-and-off without having to unzip it. The iMainGoX also features a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and plug-in charger, and has a battery life of up to 12 hours. Yes, we still carry the iMainGo2 which is priced at $39.99 and requires four AA batteries.

birdJammer Comments

We love to hear from you, and have much appreciated several compliments received recently:

"I love your products and find them the most practical stuff for my world of biology and the odd nature hike! BirdJam makes my birding season. Keep up the good work."

"You are wonderful to work with and I can't wait to get my hands on your birdJam Bundle. For years I have mixed up the calls of the Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers. The BirdJam warbler module will be really helpful as learning and remembering their calls is especially tough. Thanks again."

"I am loving your birdJam HeadsUp Warblers app. I presented it in a recent workshop I led for our local Audubon chapter and the participants all loved it too! Great job on this app."

"I love the new birdJam: The App. I'm having a lot of fun playing with the quizzes in the various habitat sections. This is what I was trying to do with my iPod, only better!"

birdJam Support

We provide you many ways to get answers to your questions, including checking our birdJam Support page, Email or by Phone 1-800-403-5524. You can also read through past editions of the birdJam Newsletters for lots of tips and tricks for using your birdJam iPod.

With our best wishes,

Denese, Jay and Charlie