Subject: [Tweeters] Using Recorded Bird Vocalizations in the Field (was:
Date: Nov 26 21:45:39 2010
From: Wayne Weber - contopus at telus.net


Tweeters,



Joe Meche clearly does not seem to understand the value of using recorded
bird vocalizations in the field.



Having a library of recorded bird songs and calls with you is about the same
as having a field guide with you (as opposed to leaving it at home). It is
an invaluable aid to identification for birds which cannot be seen, or those
which can be seen but are still hard to identify except by calls (e.g.
Tropical Kingbird!!). This does NOT mean that you have to broadcast the
calls to attract the bird in for a closer look, which is usually not
necessary. At the same time, I would rather have a regular speaker as
opposed to those infernal ear buds which so many people use with iPODs,
which can easily damage your hearing if you are not careful.



At the same time, as a professional ornithologist with decades of
experience, I can assure birders that, in most cases, judicious use of
recorded songs and calls to attract birds into view causes minimal
disturbance to most bird species-at least, no more disturbance than is often
caused by photographers trying to get a "closer" photo. (Yes, I am a keen
bird photographer as well.)



Call playback should NOT be used without a permit for threatened or
endangered species (e.g. Spotted Owls), or for species known to be
especially sensitive to disturbance (e.g. trogons), and should probably be
used cautiously for birds known or suspected to be nesting, when they might
be more susceptible to disturbance.



For the record, I still use a cassette tape recorder with various recordings
of bird calls and songs. I will have to switch to an iPOD or something
similar soon when my cassettes stop working (I've had some of them for over
20 years). However, I find that I don't use the recordings very often, and
then mostly to determine the presence of species that vocalize infrequently,
such as rails and owls. In doing something like a Breeding Bird Atlas
(currently underway in BC), using recordings is the only easy way to
determine the presence of some of these species, and knowing whether a
species is present or absent in an area is more important than the slight
disturbance it may cause to the individual birds.



Wayne C. Weber, Ph.D.

Delta, BC

contopus at telus.net









From: tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Mechejmch
Sent: November-26-10 1:08 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] iPods



Birders, one and all,



This could be one of those hot-button issues and I'm in such a good mood
today that I'll play devil's advocate and ask, why does anyone have to
consider taking speakers, "pocket sized" or otherwise, into the field to
enjoy birding? What's really the point?



The most economical route would be to leave the electronics, and especially
the speakers, in the car or at home. Invest in a camera and take home a few
nice photos and allow nature to provide the sounds.



**I've removed the original poster's name because this is really a bigger
issue for everyone to ponder and not take too personally. Perhaps it's a
simple matter of different strokes, etc.



Thanks for your time and happy birding,

Joe Meche

Bellingham