hi Eva & Marc,
for an example of maps based on calls see e.g.
http://www.xeno-canto.org/species.php?query=3Dgrallaria+rufula. This is
the Rufous Antpitta, candidate for a multiple split based (primarily) on
vocal characters in different areas. You'll see and hear the calls
differ considerably across the range. (Nothing that was not known
already but nice to see anyway, as published recordings are scattered
across many cd's, tapes, cdroms what have you, and plenty of recordings
remain buried in private archives/dusty boxes.) An example of a species
that recently has been proposed for a split in at least 5 species is
here: http://www.xeno-canto.org/species.php?query=3Dwarbling+antbird. The
paper in which they were split showed plenty of sonograms but there was
no way in which you could actually hear the sounds! This map seems to be
the only place where you can. Of course the data in the paper was more
systematic in coverage of different call types across regions and forms,
but still.
A test version showing different species in one map is here
http://www.xeno-canto.org/map.php?query=3Dgrallaria. (This is all in KML
just like the map Bernie Krause has mentioned a few weeks ago. That is
nice because in principle you could add all the data in the map to a
personal archive of geospatial data that you have, and show it in Google
Earth e.g.) Unlike Bernie we can't figure out how to get the sounds
playing in this particular format, yet. : (
Systems that allow uploading of observational data (sightings, pictures)
from mobile devices to a database exist see e.g. www.waarneming.nl. I
don't see why sounds could not be added to that. I think it would be
very nice. People seem to be more reluctant to share sounds than
pictures or videos, the easier it gets the better.
To make useful maps people do need to know what it is they are hearing
and uploading: not that easy! There aren't that many people that are
familiar with all the sounds of a certain geographical area, and
sound-field-guides are only in their infancy (and just for for Europe
and the States). In xeno-canto some of the people who do know point out
mistakes every now and again, and with more recordings coming in the
users will eventually be able to compare their uploads against others
for a first check.
Now as far as automatic ID of sounds is concerned, that is not that
easy! On xeno-canto we use an interactive system, that only works well
for some types of sounds www.xeno-canto.org/find.php. An automatic
system is on our to-do list : ) The only thing on the web I know of is
at www.findsounds.com. If anyone has found something else do let me know.
sorry for long post,
cheers,
Willem-Pier
Marc Myers wrote:
>
> This is very cool technology. To anyone's knowledge is there software
> that can search this database of sounds for known waveforms? Birds of
> course but many animals have distinctive calls. Seems to me with
> phones ubiquitous in even the most remote areas it would be possible
> to generate range maps based on calls fairly easily.
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