birdsoup

With the arrival of spring it’s time to begin reviewing the bird sounds that will soon draw many of us into the field. One of the best ways to help you remember these sounds is through the use of mnemonics (pronounced ne-mon-icks). These are verbal cues that help us recall and remember bird songs. There are three different types of Mnemonics: (1) the acoustic analogy, (2) the simile, and (3) the forced translation.

1. The acoustic analogy connects the song with a known sound (e.g., a Rusty Blackbird sounds like a squeaky hinge on an old wooden gate)
2. The simile makes an associated connection between species (e.g., a Fish Crow sounds like an Am. Crow with a head cold).
3. A forced translation tries to find human words that sound similar to a bird song notes. (e.g., the Rufus-sided Towhee calling out “Drink you tea!”).

The best way to remember mnemonics is to use whatever memory-jogger works best for you. You can even make up your own. Remember, you don’t have to accept or use other people’s mnemonics, no matter how well respected the source may be. Use whatever works for you, or whatever helps you become more attuned to listening for bird sounds.