Lets listen
By no means I would consider myself an expert on wildlife. However, that doesn’t stop me from trying to learn about it. Whenever I encounter a species which I can’t recognize, I usually try to identify it in a book I carry around (see the post Gear, gear, gear…) or at least I try to google it. Unfortunately, that only works when I can actually see it, which is not always the case, is it? Especially when it comes to birds, they tend to let themselves heard usually much earlier than being seen.
Maybe you have also already tried to identify a bird according to its song or call. How successful was your attempt? Let me guess, unless you are an experienced ornithologist, probably not very good, right? Well, it is the same with me. Even though I got a bit better and at the moment I can recognize several species with certainty, I am far from being any good at it. So I have to rely on any help I can get. At first I also tried my luck with books, but I soon realized that such way was a no go for me. Have you ever read any description of a bird song in a book on ornithology? Maybe it is just me, but It kind of reminds me of reading some black magic enchantments (not that I have any experience in magic, though)… The description usually goes something like this:
SONGS
Both males and females sing two kinds of rather rudimentary songs. The first is a shrill, rising squee that lasts about 0.8 second, with a metallic sound. It’s reminiscent of the ree part of the Red-winged Blackbird’s conk-la-ree call. The second song is a nonmusical rushing gurgle, also lasting less than a second.
CALLS
Brewer’s Blackbirds often make a tchup or chuk similar to the calls of other blackbirds, and used in a manner scientists have called “conversational in nature.” A more intense, slightly higher pitched version of this call is used as an alarm, to chase off intruders, and when carrying food for young. Males make a clear, descending whistle, about 0.5 second long, when they sight hawks or large birds. Quarreling females chatter at each other with a kit-tit-tit-tit call.
See: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brewers_Blackbird/sounds
Would you recognize the Brewer's blackbird? I don’t know about you, but “conk-la-ree“ and “kit-tit-tit-tit“ is hardly any help for me. So I searched in the realm of modern technologies and solution soon presented itself. Get an app! For instance, I personally use application BirdNET, which I downloaded from Google Play on my smartphone, and it works great. All you need to do is to start the app, let it record the bird’s song and send the recording for analysis (you need internet connection for that). Once the bird is recognized it also saves your observation with time and location. At the moment the app recognizes 984 of the most common species of North America and Europe. I find this to be a great learning tool, which is also fun to use.
Do you know any other good app for this purpose? If so, let me know in the comment section!
This leads me to the pictures above. I used to struggle to distinguish between the song of the common blackbird and common chaffinch (don’t laugh, I said I am no expert…). The first two pictures I took on a short stroll at Vrbenské ponds at the beginning of June. My photo-hunt was not very successful that day. It was mostly overcast, but when I was on my way back the late afternoon sun peeked through the clouds. And then I heard this little fellow. Well, I didn’t really know it was him. First, I had to confirm my guess - yes, I used the app. It was blackbird. Once I knew what I was looking for, it was easy to spot him. Sometimes it really helps to programe your mind for searching for specific colors and shapes among the leaves. Pictures of the chaffinch I took in the middle of May at Velký Tisý pond. And I also used the app to identify him first.
Ever since I started with wildlife photography I also began not only to watch, but also to listen way more than I used to. Unless you have already started doing do same, maybe give it a go. Listening to our surroundings in nature opens a new door, which are otherwise shut. Being aware of the sounds makes us more part of nature itself. And once you open that door, you will probably never go back.
