My 2-cents on Peterson's brilliant written transcribing of bird songs. I
began learning bird by bird by the method Dennis did - by tracking down each
vocalization in the field beginning about 1967. It was a laborious process,
each year I seemed to begin anew. About 20 years later, it all seemed to
have fallen into place! The major stumbling block I find now is hearing a
song out of the species "proper" habitat. It shows how important habitat is
used by some of us in placing a bird vocalization. Its somewhat dangerous too.

I find it interesting that some birders I've talked to find Peterson's
written description of songs and calls totally to worse than useless! ...the
connection between ear and mind is a strange thing.

Andy Stepniewski
Wapato WA



>>From Dennis:
>>The best bet to me is just to try to track down every unfamiliar bird
>>vocalization and identify it.
>YES!
>
>>I also found my learning enhanced by reading
>>R. T. Peterson's descriptions, to which I could often relate.
>
>
>Scott
>
>