Mainly just by ear. I've tried recording in the past (and did record some
this morning with iPhone), but the calls usually end up buried in
background noise. I even built one of the flower-pot microphones several
years ago but didn't have much success with it.
I have the OldBird CD (http://www.oldbird.org/) which apparently is no
longer available (but new version advertised for 2017). The thrushes are
relatively easy with lots of practice, and they seem to be the most
common/vocal. They often continue to give the nocturnal flight calls as
they land and settle in early in the morning allowing for visual
confirmation of what I think I'm hearing.
kweep = Swainson's
high-pitched kweeeeer = Gray-cheecked
low, raspy veee-ur = Veery
raspy vee or veer = Wood
non-raspy vee-er = Hermit
Bobolink, Dickcissel, tanagers, cuckoos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo
Bunting, and a few others are fairly distinctive as well. I don't even
bother with the warblers and sparrows though. Being on a ridge probably
helps both because the birds are following the ridgeline and because I'm
closer to them. Pre-dawn is usually best for me... less background noise
and katydids plus the birds seem to be flying lower.
Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN
On Tue, 20 Sep 2016, Greg Tomerlin wrote:
This fascinates me. Are you using some type of audio recording device or is=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================
this strictly by ear?
Thanks.
*Greg*
*cedarbees@xxxxxxxxx <cedarbees@xxxxxxxxx>*
On Tue, Sep 20, 2016 at 8:10 AM, <kde@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Another good pre-dawn flight of thrushes over the house this morning (Tues
20 Sept, Black Oak Ridge in west Knox Co, TN), lower altitude but maybe
half the number of calls as yesterday. Mainly Swainson's Thrushes again
but got the 4 expected Catharus thrushes (bit early still for Hermit),
another Summer Tanager, and some unIDed warbler calls.