Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!asuvax!ukma!seismo!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!paul.rutgers.edu!pratt From: pratt@paul.rutgers.edu (Lorien Y. Pratt) Newsgroups: rec.birds Subject: Re: Bird calls on CD? Message-ID: Date: 14 Jun 91 13:05:20 GMT References: <5659@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 26 I can't recommend more highly a package of tapes and a booklet called ``birding by ear''. It's a wonderful introduction to the calls and songs of 85 species, and is available in both Eastern and Western US versions. You can probably purchase it through the ABA or at your local birdwatcher- supply store, or if you want I'll get the publisher name when I'm next at home. We've had the Peterson Field Guide to Bird Songs for a couple of years, which is just a tape of each call. The narrator says ``Rose Breasted Grosbeak'', then you hear one. ``Birding by Ear'' is completely different, because it gives you ``handles'' by which to remember each bird, pairs confusing birds together, gives little ``quizzes'' for tough distinctions. It was always so frustrating when the Peterson man told us what were about to listen to *first*, so we could only practice our identification in the field. Now we can hone our skills in the car on the highway. It's opened up a whole new dimension to bird watching, especially now that the trees have leafed out. We have definitely become qualitatively better birders since listening to this set of tapes. --Lori -- ------------------------------------------------------------------- L. Y. Pratt Computer Science Department pratt@paul.rutgers.edu Rutgers University Hill Center (908) 932-4634 (Hill Center office) New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA (908) 846-4766 (home)