Well as much as I love the bird finder, sadly my PC doesn't fit in my pack so I'm on the hunt for a field guide to take with me while out and about.. With so many out there which one/s would you reccomend and why? thanks in advance :)
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If you have iPhone/IPad MIcheal Morcombe and David Stewarts eGuide to Australian Birds is worth a look (search "Morcombe" in the app store). Some of the drawings are not quite right, most are ok, but gives good information, and has features like a smart search, and also bird calls which you can play, and is better than nothing. It is also a lot cheaper than some of the better guides, which I am too scared to damage in the field. You are able to set location parameters, by regions or use all of Australia. There is a "free" version as a sample, but it is very limited. The full version cost somewhere just over $30, but in my opinion is worth it. I believe there is also an Android version, but have not seen it. It will work both on iPad and iPhone, although there are some subtle differences on each device (using the same app). Just my 2 bobs worth to consider. Good luck.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Definately available for Android devices. Google Micheal Morcombe, and do some research for yourself, some reviews as well. Maybe not perfect, but works for me.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Cassie, like Dale I can recommend the Morcombe's eGuide to Australian Birds as well as the hard copy of his Field Guide to Australian Birds. To carry the latter you would need a reasonable back pack.
This morning I had my trusty eGuide with me when I heard what I thought was a diamond firetail. Upon firing up the eGuide I was able to confirm that the call was indeed that of the diamond firetail.
Thank you, my phone runs android so will see what it's like
I have an HTC/Android with Morcombe's app, and I have to say it's fantastic.
It includes the calls of the birds in the app,and it also has call variations,e.g. alarm,group feeding,song etc., and that's a huge bonus for me,I use it to attract birds and to I.D. them.
Looks like Morcombe is going to sell a few more apps soon. Agree with all comments, very user friendly, and convenient no one goes far without a phone thes days!). Still prefer books, but not as transportable, or in some cases, as easy to use.
Goodluck Cassie, and let us know what you think if ou go ahead with this app?
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
I have had Morecombe's eGuide since 12/11 and agree with all the comments above.
However, I bought the 9th edition of Pizzey & Knight whne it was launched a few months ago and they are advertising that they will have an eGuide available soon. I realy like this paper guide more than the other 4.
If you can wait, then wait and compare the 2 else go for Morecombe's
Peter
Hi Peter, can you let us know when Pizzey and Knight's eGuide is released? I would like to check it out. Thanks
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Hmm,that was one thing I worried about from the day those apps came on the market, people using the sound to attract birds. I'm well aware of some people doing all kinds of things to get photos. I am very sorry, but it confuses birds greatly, most of all if mating calls or feeding calls are used. Just think about it for a minute, if you call like a female bird, several male birds will turn up, trying to find the female and possibly getting into fights with the rival. Just one example. Unfortunately there is no way of preventing it either.
M-L
Agreed M-L, here is the relevant text from the "help" section-
Please use the bird call recordings only sparingly and briefly. At all times try not to disturb the birds, or interfere with the enjoyment of other bird observers, who may well prefer to listen out for the real calls, or may be trying to hear calls of other species. Use of earphones avoids possible distress to birds and annoyance to other birders. Keep the volume low. The small speakers in the phone-size devices are usually sufficient, larger speakers should be kept well down in volume as the birds have acute hearing. Do not replay repeatedly at one site or bird, especially in the spring breeding season. The most natural recordings are those made without playback. When calls are used for photography, keep calls brief and soft.
I love the app, and use calls only with minimum volume for this very reason. Most will not read all information, and may be blissfully ignorant of the potential problems it can cause.
Dale Huonville, Tasmania
Excellent point, guys.
Hi guys, I installed the free version and love it! can't wait to get the full version though as I saw a few birds that were not on it although I went out today and did ID one bird call via the sounds, I had headphones on the whole time with one exeption where I played a call once to see if I got a responce which I did so I headed that way. Sadly couldn't find the bird but didn't want to play it again so I trotted off on my walk. Thanks so much for all your help and information
Great that you like it Cassie.
Sorry guys,I felt guilty when I used it,a bit like I was almost cheating to get better photos,and the points stated here have changed my mind about that.
I am an 'all things in moderation' person, yes I will use playback, I have also 'pished' or attempted to
there is an article on this topic in the March Australian Birdlife (p8)
Peter
Hey, Pacman. Here's a story about moderation.
Once upon a time there was a land covered with natural bushland & grasslands, abounding in wildlife. Biodiversity heaven.
One day a developer came along & said "What we need is balanced development. Everything in moderation."
This seemed perfectly reasonable so it was agreed that 50% of the beautiful bushland, wildlife & biodiversity be given over to development so that development would be balanced with the bushland, wildlife & biodiversity.
Seeing this balanced development, another developer, wishing to get his/her piece of the action, said "What we need is balanced development. Everything in moderation."
Again, this seemed perfectly reasonable so it was agreed that 50% of the bushland, wildlife & biodiversity be given over to further development which, of course, would be balanced with the bushland, wildlife & biodiversity.
Before too long, there were developers galore, all lining up for their piece of the action. What was once natural bushland, abounding in wildlife & biodiversity had been reduced from 100% of the original to 50% then 25% then 12.5% all in the name of balanced development in moderation. Soon there was 3.125% of the original left, all in the name of balanced development in moderation. The rivers were polluted, the soil was eroded & salinity spread. And still the developers lined up, all espousing the cause of moderation & balanced development. The land was no longer fit for wildlife & had also become unfit for human habitation as people stagnated in their soulless, over-crowded developments.
Moderation? Only in moderation, my friend.
Woko - you know that is just a fairy tale
off topic 1 (and at the risk of alienating a number of contributors)
I always find it interesting that some people 1) support supplementary watering (bird baths), 2) are against supplementary feeding, 3) support pishing and 4) are against callback
there seems to be a contradiction in logical thought
off topic 2
I hear your resentment of developers but suggest that you focus on the real cause - the increasing population
cap the population and therefore stop the need for more suburbs and the developers will go off and find another way to make a living
Peter
Developers make good roads, which makes it easier to access our homes and remote places. Without these roads we would not be able to access these remotes places and tick off or take a photo of another bird in our field guides.
Sorry cassie got side track to many to choose from, but most of them are very good. what ever floats your boat
See it! Hear it!
Mid-North Coast NSW
I haven't noticed any confusion with the birds. *IF* they come, they have a sticky for a very short while then go about their business. It's taken, like, 1 minute out of their day. If you use it to often, you're ignored. Use sparingly.
I think people underestimate the birds' intelligence (or WA birds are smarter but I didn't say that out loud).
Anyhoo, as I've mentioned elsewhere, same species have different dialects in different regions and I've noticed several calls are quite different to the ones we have here in WA or at least in my area but it's an excellent ap regardless. I have mine on a new TouchiPod bought specifically so I could use that ap (and the Pizzey & Knight one when it comes out!) It may not replace a good field guide for greater detail but it's a very useful lightweight resource to take with you for quick IDs.
I have most of the main field guides (if not all). My main go to is Simpson & Day for no specific reason other than it has good illustrations and feels right
If you're in WA, there's an excellent photographic field guide by Simon Neville.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
For those that subscribe to Birding-aus you would ahve got an email about 4pm today titled 'Masked Owls in Tasmania'
The writer wrote about a recent trip where he used a professional guide to find the owls. The text included the words 'was recently awarded his Ph D for a thesis on the Masked Owl in Tasmania, written after hundreds of hours of seeking these birds at some 211 locations in Tasmania' and went on to say that he, the guide and researcher, used playback at each site.
Peter
Pacman, maybe I am one of those you were referring to on your off topic comments 1 and 2 (I don't know what is meant by 3 and 4) and I do not at all feel alienated
but, even if not, I have to reply to your comments. Providing water is of use to birds (and other animals) more so than food especially in hot weather as it is a necessary requirement and natural water sources are also disappearing. It will attract birds even non-residents to a garden without having an impact on their nutritional requirements. Water is water no matter where the bird sources it so providing an additional source is not impacting on the bird negatively.
Supplementary feeding however is not a complete diet for birds in the same way that fast foods are not complete for humans however just like some humans if you provide a cheap (free) convenient source of food it will be eaten sometimes exclusively whether or not it is suitable or complete. In addition, supplementary feeding causes a congregation of birds in a confined area exposing those present to a greater risk of contracting any contagious illness such as Psittacine beak and feather disease (a viral disease) just to name one. So rather that a "contradiction in logical thought" it is the degree of impact which is the defining difference. Water only suppliers are trying to help without doing harm which, while intent is no doubt the same for supplementary feeders, the risk of doing harm is far greater.
Edited to apologise for adding to the off topic additions
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
Replying to the off-topic ...
I have to agree with Pacman. Unless you're feeding whole flocks at a time (and most of us aren't), it is a "contradiction in logical thought".
Items 1 and 2 - everyone says this but I don't understand the rationale. As I mentioned above, birds aren't dumb and their natural instincts (if non-captive) to vary their diets haven't been trashed like ours have. I doubt non-captive birds would use provided seed as their sole source of diet and as for seed stations promoting the spread of disease by "congregation of birds in a confined area exposing those present to a great risk ..." how on earth does that differ from bird after bird coming to stagnant, bacteria-breeding water. The proliferation of bacteria in warm, still water takes very little time and I don't think anyone is changing the water every 20 minutes. On that basis, providing water may well be more hazardous than providing seed.
I put out a cup of seed a couple of times a week and change the water (which is shaded) every day, twice if it's hot. I've had the same small group of birds (Ringnecks, Red-Capped Parrots, Crested Pigeons, Wattlebirds, Honeyeaters, Magpies, Magpie Larks etc.) visit once or twice a day. They come in ones or twos and as one lot leave, a few minutes later someone else might arrive. The station is set up in and very close to the house side of a cypress tree and only this select little group has found it. They're now bringing their very healthy looking babies, one parent and one baby at a time. I'm happy to remove both water and seed if I see a diseased bird but until that time my little crew and I will enjoy each other's company while we may.
Wendy
Mandurah, WA
Peel-Yalgorup System Ramsar Site
http://www.flickr.com/photos/girlinoz/
As people will always do what makes them happy despite advice to the contrary or any possible consequences I can't see the point in rehashing this topic again on someone else's thread about field guides. My apologies to the topic originator for adding to this diversion.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
3) support pishing - pishing is pursing your lips together and exhaling or inhaling to make a sound or squeak that is thought to sound lke a young or injured bird thereby atracting others, this has been practised by birders for years
and 4) are against callback - callback is the use of recorded bird calls to attract other birds - is the use of recorder - - - c
Peter
Thank you, Peter, for explaining those terms.
Alison
~~~~~~
"the earth is not only for humans, but for all animals and living things."
The Pizzey/Knight E-guide will still be some time away I say. They are still looking for sound files and we are still contributing a lot of species images even now.....