What ARE birds? We just don't know

[cosmolinguist]

Heard some marvelously crazy-sounding birds outside my house this morning.

I wish I knew enough to identify bird calls. I'm the world's worst birdwatcher (as proved when we had to go out and write down the names of all the birds we saw in my tenth grade biology class; I had a lot of conversations with my clueless teacher that went "look, see that one there?" "nope" "there, in that tree!" "nope, sorry" "but how can you not, look, it's right--!?" "nope!") but I'd like to learn what they sound like.

There must be a CD you can get to practice identifying the bird calls of Britain, like the ones I got from the OU to learn other languages, that repeat the noise a couple of times, give you a chance to shout out your guess, and then tell you it was a bluetit or whatever.

Comments

[kaberett]

The RSPB does this! They've got recordings of bird calls on their website :-)

[askygoneonfire]

Damnit you beat me to it!

[cosmolinguist]

Marvelous. :) Thank you both.

[cosmolinguist]

I should've known. :) I'll have to look them up when I have proper internet access again (hopefully we'll only go a few days without it in the house move...)

[diffrentcolours]

It's a Throat-Warbler Mangrove, they're very common in Levenshulme at this time of year.

[cosmolinguist]

Yeah, probably was. :) Yet another reason why Levenshulme is best.

[bloodbeauty.livejournal.com]

there is lots of stuff online http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/birdsong.shtml is the most user friendly i think. this video autoplays but has the most common. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/10015599/Birdsong-for-beginners-some-of-the-most-common-bird-calls-in-British-gardens.html

but yes. put british bird calls into google and you'll find lots and lots. maybe a bit overwhelming

[cosmolinguist]

I've been told the RSPB have this kind of thing on their site, which I suppose makes sense. Might check it out when I get a chance. :)

[ludy]

There's the Birdwatching With your Eyes Closed book and podcast - written by Simon Barnes who did How to Be a Bad Birdwatcher earlier

[cosmolinguist]

Awesome! Thank you for telling me :)

[miss-newham.livejournal.com]

I have this guide to garden birds on my iPod at all times: http://www.audiobooks.net/audiobook/guide-to-british-garden-birds/51628 (http://www.audiobooks.net/audiobook/guide-to-british-garden-birds/51628). I haven't learned more than about two, but it's nice to listen to.

[cosmolinguist]

I'll have to try that, thanks.