Ornithology B/C

[austinfhs]

That's a good idea, but instead of doing that, I've been downloading a picture for each bird from the internet, and putting it into a PowerPoint, and then using an animation, I have the bird's name a click away.

[courage7856]

That's a good idea, but instead of doing that, I've been downloading a picture for each bird from the internet, and putting it into a PowerPoint, and then using an animation, I have the bird's name a click away.

That's a good idea, but I like having something portable to take with me so I can study in class or at band rehearsals when I have some free time. I actually added up all my free time this fall while I'm in school, and I have over an hour. I think it's easier to have something to do with me all the time.

[Skink]

I tried to do this last year, but I wasn't too great at it - I think I'm a bit better than I was last year though, so I'll be able to pick up on some better clues. What marks, for the female birds, should I focus on?

One approach is rote memorization and more flash cards, which I don't trust. What I'd do:
To illustrate what I was getting at, suppose you get this guy. What do you do?
Put your best foot forward; to be honest, mine is that it's a Cactus Wren. I glance at page 2 of the List to get the page in my guide, I look, and the bill ain't right. Knowing that the two are similar-ish but that this guy's browner may be enough to remember it in the stations to come so you can ID it later. If not, I'd start looking through the guide real fast for guidance...and I found it in less than ten seconds. If that doesn't do it for you, take down its field marks. I'd take down the pattern on its breast and the stripe above the eye. You know its bill shape. If at this point you still feel as though you wouldn't have it identified as a female Red-winged Blackbird in reasonable time, then you might want to mark up your Official List and field guide to maximize their usefulness. They are, after all, tools at your disposal.
Try this one, I guess. It's a gift if you know what the male looks like.

I went to Borders, and in their bargain book section, they have some pretty cheap field guides. I think mine was 4 dollars.

You think they sell the same "junk" at Barnes & Noble?

EDIT: Weird, it works fine for me. Switched in a different one.

[amerikestrel]

You're second link is broken, fyi.

[purplepeopleeater]

hmm. pretty neat. we just have tons of field guides that we rotate through for studying, and we make sheets so that it shows one bird at a time.

[austinfhs]

I tried to do this last year, but I wasn't too great at it - I think I'm a bit better than I was last year though, so I'll be able to pick up on some better clues. What marks, for the female birds, should I focus on?

One approach is rote memorization and more flash cards, which I don't trust. What I'd do:
To illustrate what I was getting at, suppose you get this guy. What do you do?
Put your best foot forward; to be honest, mine is that it's a Cactus Wren. I glance at page 2 of the List to get the page in my guide, I look, and the bill ain't right. Knowing that the two are similar-ish but that this guy's browner may be enough to remember it in the stations to come so you can ID it later. If not, I'd start looking through the guide real fast for guidance...and I found it in less than ten seconds. If that doesn't do it for you, take down its field marks. I'd take down the pattern on its breast and the stripe above the eye. You know its bill shape. If at this point you still feel as though you wouldn't have it identified as a female Red-winged Blackbird in reasonable time, then you might want to mark up your Official List and field guide to maximize their usefulness. They are, after all, tools at your disposal.
Try this one, I guess. It's a gift if you know what the male looks like.

Oh man. I just owned by your two examples - I had no idea what they were. I don't have a field guide on me (lent it to my partner), so I couldn't try the second one, but all my guesses don't really seem to be working (I was guessing a flycatcher, but I don't think that's right, what is it?)

I think I'll be purchasing some of those 'junk' field guides and just using some rote memorization, even though that doesn't work. And then possibly having a third member look up random bird pictures, and then just using my field marks to try and ID some. I'm hoping that female birds just don't show up.

[Flavorflav]

You were right, it is a flycatcher.

[amerikestrel]

You were right, it is a flycatcher.

Yeah, it looks like a female Pyrocephalus rubinus.

[paleonaps]

Yeah, looks like a Vermillion Flycatcher.

[amerikestrel]

I had an idea for a scioly/ornith-related posting game, but I don't want to make a thread unless people are willing to play. It was inspired by the above post with the images, and I think it could really help with practicing identification. Basically, someone posts or links to an image of a bird on the list, and everyone tries to identify it. First person to get it right posts the next image. We could even keep track of scores, but that might be overdoing it. Anyone interested?