Guess the Song (and the Story Behind It)

This week, we encourage participants to engage in the art of birding by ear. Develop your skills in identifying five commonly found bird species in your area through their vocalizations. The Merlin Bird ID app, which is free to use, includes a Sound ID feature that can provide suggestions on the species you may be hearing. For individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, the spectrograms in Merlin can serve as visual representations of the bird sounds.

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If you’re an experienced birder, offer tips on identifying birds based on their sounds. And if you’re trying this for the first time, let us know about your experience.

Michael Hurben, at the age of 56, discovered his passion for birding in his 20s. It was during this time that he also met Claire Strohmeyer, an experienced birder. On their third date, Claire mentioned her involvement with the Audubon Society, instantly connecting with Michael’s newfound interest. “I couldn’t let her go after that,” he recalls. In 1993, they got married, and birding became their shared activity, taking them to 45 different countries in search of new bird species.

“Unfortunately, my vision began to decline just as my passion for birding and my relationship with Claire were growing,” Michael says. “Initially, it bothered me a lot not being able to see the birds. Eventually, I had to come to terms with it.” However, he found solace in birding by ear. Equipped with a powerful microphone, Michael could identify and record the sounds of various birds without needing to rely on his vision. “I realized that even if I can’t see the bird, capturing its sound brings me joy,” he shares.

Over time, Michael has observed almost half of all bird species worldwide and recorded the vocalizations of nearly 1,000 birds. His ability to identify birds by sound has become incredibly refined. “Eventually, their calls start sounding like human voices,” he adds. Many experienced birders heavily rely on their sense of hearing to make identifications. “It’s a truly immersive experience,” remarks Jocelyne, a participant in a summer birding project in Quebec. “During the summer, when the dense foliage obstructs visual sightings, I concentrate solely on sounds.” Barbara, a singer from California, says, “As a vocalist, training my ear to identify birds came naturally to me. I use Merlin to identify new birds and confirm my guesses.”

While the Merlin Bird ID app can identify bird calls, Michael emphasizes the value of birding alongside an experienced auditory birder. “No matter how you approach it, birding by ear can be incredibly rewarding,” he explains. “In my case, it was a necessity, but anyone can benefit from listening more attentively. It just requires effort.”