Does anyone have any experience (akin to the current discussion re LED spotlights/headlamps) that they could share with me re digital recorder/playback units suitable for use in the field to record a calling bird and immediately play the call back in an attempt to call a yet-to-be-identified bird into viewing range (typically needed when birding in new countries where calls are not known/recognized)?*
A friend has recently seen a guide in South America use an Olympus stereo digital voice recorder (designed for recording dictation and/or meetings) with what appears to have been pretty good results.
A good recorder for use in birding would presumably combine most of the following attributes:
. Lightweight and portable (suitable for in the pocket), but sufficiently robust for field-use
. Sensitive (and preferably somewhat directional) microphone, able to record bird calls with acceptable fidelity even at some distance
. Easy playback, with adequate volume (preferably using built-in speaker/s, or alternatively plug-in lightweight powered speaker/s)
. Adequate battery life for field use – preferably using readily available and relatively inexpensive batteries (either replaceable or rechargeable)
. Software suitable for easy labeling and subsequent identification of recordings for later playback
. Competitive pricing
I would be grateful for any contributions, either on or off-line (or by phone).
(*I fully appreciate that there are birding ethics issues here, and that some birders are uncomfortable with the use of playback in the field – I would prefer not enter into that debate right now.)
Richard NOWOTNY
Port Melbourne, Victoria
M: 0438 224 456
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Olympus voice recorders are very good for recording bird song and playing it back (and indeed for playing recorded songs) – we have a DS40 (now discontinued) – it has tiny stereo microphones and the quality is excellent, it is very light and it just uses a couple of AAA batteries. It was recommended to us by a guide in Nepal. However, you cannot label or rename tracks that you have recorded so the management of what you have recorded is difficult unless you download it to a PC.
Rosemary Wales, UK