<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div>Here are two of my takeaways from the birding by ear class that I just took <span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and one of my own ideas that </span>might be helpful tricks for you as well while listening to birds:</div><div><br></div><div>- Think about how you would describe the song to a friend, or to Google if you didn't have Bird ID. The more and more varied ways you think about the song, the more you will commit it to memory. </div><div><br></div><div>- For similar-sounding species (like Dark Eyed Juncos and Spotted Towhees), count the length of the song. In the example in parenthesis, the former usually has a slightly longer song, which can help you know who's who between the two. (I rhymed. 😁) </div><div><br></div><div>- A tip of my own, for the same reason as I gave in the first tip for memorization: develop mnemonic devices if possible. My own personal ones almost always use letters that occur in the prompt (species) and object I want to commit to memory (an aspect of their sound/song), or rhyming. An example would be that Spotted Towhees trill ('T'), Swainson's Thrush is ethereal ('Th'), or Robins are bobbin' (to me, the song of a Robin has a 'bobbing along' quality to it). </div><div><br></div><div>I hope this helps. Let us know of any fun mnemonics you come up with! </div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Peace, </span><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Heather</span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Heather Gervais</span></div></div><div><div><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Certified Personal Trainer</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Fitness Instructor </span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Spanish Interpreter</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 17pt;">Good person </span></div><div><br></div><div>“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”</div><div>- Mahatma Gandhi </div><div><br></div><div>Message sent from my iPhone. Please excuse its brevity and occasional typos. </div></div><div><br></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Jul 2, 2024, at 9:13 AM, via Tweeters <tweeters@u.washington.edu> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<p>Hi all,<br>
<br>
So the single piece of advice I've received - so far - is to increase my 'birding<br>
by ear' skills. <br>
<br>
===> Thanks for that.<br>
<br>
My intent is to start using Sound ID (Merlin app) to help id more birds while in<br>
the field. At this time I do not intend to take any of the online/live courses - I<br>
have tried those in the past and found, for the most part, I have not learned<br>
much. What actually happened is that I loved the course - but very little of it<br>
"stuck". *Sigh*.<br>
What I'm hoping for is that the use of Sound ID - coupled with then also<br>
finding the bird visually (when possible) will increase my ability to ID by sound.<br>
I don't expect this to be a "quick process" ... *G*.<br>
<br>
- again - thanks for all your help ... Jim<br>
<br>
P.S. Whenever I "reply" to a tweeters it always gives me two addressees - do I<br>
need/want to use both of them or is just one (either?) going to do the job?</p>
<span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>Tweeters mailing list</span><br><span>Tweeters@u.washington.edu</span><br><span>http://mailman11.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>