[wisb] Re: Learning Bird Songs
- From: Tim Hahn <thahnbirder@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: DanJackson@xxxxxxxxxxx, Wisconsin Birding Network <wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:41:06 -0500
Dan, I had the same experience with John's CD. In my 5+ years working at
Wild Birds Unlimited in Brookfield, I can't count how many times I listened
to that CD, or the companion DVD Birds, Birds, Birds. Then when I coupled
the mnemonics with my own silly memory hitches, I was able to remember a
ton of bird songs. One of my favorites is this: in my mind the band Devo
must be from Connecticut, because that state's namesake warbler sings "Whip
it! Whip it up! Whip it good!"
Tim Hahn
Pewaukee, WI
( Waukesha Cty)
On Mar 18, 2014 10:11 AM, "Dan Jackson" <DanJackson@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> For me, a key to learning to ID birds by ear was the discovery of John
> Fieth's "A Bird Song Ear Training Guide". I had tried to learn bird songs
> using other sets of recordings but was not very successful.
>
> Where most sets of recordings start each track with an announcement of the
> species name which is then followed by examples of the bird's song, the
> tracks on John's CD are organized differently. On his CD, the recording
> for each species starts with the various calls, which are followed by an
> announcement of the species name and a mnemonic that can be used to
> remember the song, and completed with a short version of the calls so that
> you can mentally compare the mnemonic to the call.
>
> One of the advantages of this format is that it works well as a quiz. By
> playing the CD in shuffle mode, you can hear each track randomly and then
> listen to calls and quiz yourself before you are told which species it is.
>
> The only down side to the CD is that 2 species are included on each track.
> I overcame this by importing it into iTunes, making copies of each track,
> and then setting the start and end points on each track so that I could
> listen to each species on its own.
>
> Before using John's CD, birding by ear was really hard for me. After I
> found it, I have been much more successful (not perfect by any means).
>
> I try to listen to it starting in March each year so that I am ready for
> migration. I have about a 30 minute commute to work and can get through
> the whole thing during that time. At this point, even a few days of
> practice is enough to remember most songs. However, when I first started,
> it took me a few weeks to get a good start (so start soon if you want to be
> ready this year).
>
> John's CD has the added advantage that it was mostly recorded in WI.
> Since many bird songs do vary by region, this allows me to spend my time
> hearing the calls that I am most likely to hear right here in WI where I do
> most of my birding.
>
> Dan Jackson,
> Chaseburg, Vernon County, WI (Near La Crosse)
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wisbirdn-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> On Behalf Of Mary Cullen
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 9:15 AM
> To: wisbirdn
> Subject: [wisb] Fw: Re: Common Spring Mis-ID Reminder
>
> Birding by ear (coupled with the visual if possible, of course) sure is
> an important tool for improving one's ID skills. I've discovered Larkwire
> (thanks to Wisbirdn input) and it really is helping me learn to identify
> those oh-so-similar vocalizations. Perhaps there are other, newer birders
> looking for ID aids as well. would anyone else like to share which tools
> have worked for them?
>
> Mary Cullen
> Summit, Waukesha
>
> <")
> ( \
> / |``
>
>
> >
> >From: Karen Etter Hale <chimneyswift1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: wisbirdn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >Sent: Monday, March 17, 2014 8:53 PM
> >Subject: [wisb] Re: Common Spring Mis-ID Reminder
> >
> >
> >Separating the songs of DARK-EYED JUNCOS and CHIPPING SPARROWS, both of
> >which are trills. It's oh, so obvious to me now, but when a relatively
> >new birder, these two songs sounded very similar to my ear (so don't
> >despair, new birders, it's a skill that can be learned - with lots of
> >practice). The problem came in mid-April, as the juncos stay here
> >almost to the day that the Chipping Sparrows arrive. Back then, I
> >always had to see them to be sure which it was.
> >Karen
> >
> >Karen Etter Hale
> >Lake Mills
> >NW Jefferson Co.
> >
> >
> >
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