Bob and Charles respond to a very important question about using bird sound playback from a listener. They also have a listener suggestion on a way to support Sara Dykman, the author of Bicycling with Butterflies.
Related episodes: Merlin Magic, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, What It’s Like to Be a Bird with David Sibley and Bicycling with Butterflies with Sara Dykman
Our sources for this episode include:
- TEDxBozeman talk by Charles van Rees: A glance through nature’s playbook
- Merlin App by The Cornell Lab
- Proper Use of Playback in Birding by David Sibley
- Sara Dykman’s Go Fund Me Campaign: Counting Monarchs in Mexico
Thanks for this episode. I am old school and I haven’t started using the Merlin app yet. I’m sure it is helpful in identifying birds as I keep hear users talk about their success with it. That being said, I feel strongly that the playback of bird calls should not be used while out in the woodlands and natural areas – unless you are using earbuds. If we want to appreciate and understand birds then we should try not to disrupt their social interactions with each other.
Nature is so stressed right now due to what we are doing to our climate that I think it is a small thing to ask people not to use the bird playback mode and to think about what happens if everyone is playing bird calls and confusing the birds – not to mention disrupting the experience of other birders. Try putting nature first instead of ourselves for a change.
Beautifully put! I could not agree more.
I so enjoy your podcasts and have learned so much. I have been using the Merlin sound ID feature with much success but no owl ID. Do you know when that will be available?
I had the same issue. I am not sure when Merlin will be able to ID owls.