I believe that it will take longer than 5 years before this technology is
really seful for birds. Analysis of bat echolocation (Anabat) has been
around since the early nineties, and still requires interpretation by an
experienced person to get calls correct, and some species , such as
long-eared bats (Nyctophilus) still can't be separated. Many calls can only
be identified to probable or possible level as well. The technology with
this has advanced remarkedly in the last 5 years, but I think many of the
IDs done in the past, could be classed as dubious at the least.
Admittedly part of the problem is the lack of reference calls for
comparison, particularly across the whole distribution of all species.
Recording bats isn't like birds where you can do the recording and then
track down the bird for ID. Also they probably have different calls for
feeding and alarm, so when recorded after being released, is probably not a
typical call for all species.
The database required for birds across the entire country is likely to be
huge, some species will be easy to identify by a computer, though these are
probably also likely to be easy to identiy by ear and if like doing bat
work, much comparison is done by comparing sonographs visually.
Anyway the idea is a good one, but I wait for the binoculars that have a
database of identifyting features and automatically calculate what species
you are looking at and put a litle text label at the top of your view.
Cheers,
Peter
From: "Hugo Phillipps" <>
Reply-To: "Hugo Phillipps" <>
To: <>
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] Song Sleuth
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 2005 23:41:51 +1000
[BIRDING-AUS] Re: Song SleuthHi everybody -
I see no reason in principle why such a device shouldn't be able to work
well, if it has a comprehensive library of bird calls to compare, and after
any initial bugs have been eliminated. It's been done for years with
microbats. Of course birdsong is much more complex than the echolocation
calls of bats, and there are potential problems with mimicry and regional
dialects, but I can easily imagine that 'call identifiers' - at half the
price and a third the weight of the early example cited - will be available
for Australian birds within five years. I don't see them as a threat in
any way. They may make bird surveys somewhat simpler, although they can
only complement visual ID - not replace it. Birders with hearing
difficulties may welcome them - and not everyone is adept at learning to
recognise calls. After, all, you don't have to use them if they offend
your purist sensibilities.
And thanks to Peter for bringing this to our notice.
Cheers,
Hugo
Hugo Phillipps
Queenscliff, Vic
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