|
here is a quote form Bill Oddie in the latest BBC Wildlife magazine, his column is generally an explanation of a trip to Guatemala to kick start his birdwatching after some time out.
After describing his inadequacies when on a guided walk he goes on to say this,
After a period of seeing and naming species there came a, "what's that?"
This time there was no response, and I realised that I was about to get my 1st demonstration of birding in the digital age. here's how it works.
1 - someone spots a little brown bird. but 2 noone knows what it is. and 3 I can't even see it. so 4 sombody points a laser pen, and a little red or green light stops half way up a huge tree. 5 pen man says, "the bird is 6 inches above the light" but 6 we still don't know what it is so 7 someone steps forward with a digital camera fitted with a lens as big as a bazooka. the bird is tiny and half a mile away, yet the camera clicks and whirrs. next 8 we all peer at the screen. A brown speck is just visible, but as the digital zoom is activated, th eimage is magnified until we see every stripe, streak and feather margin. then 9 an id is mooted - "probably a yellow-bellied flycatcher."
by now at least 3 smart phones arer scrolling through 'flycatchers of central america', while the ipod broadcasts a whispy snatch of birdsong, at which hte birdflies closer and joins in. and finally 10 "probably" becomes definitely. yellow-bellied flycatcher. tick.
So, is it progress? or is it cheating? And do I miss the days of toilet roll stuck together and marrows? (a reference to his childhood introduction to binoculars and a scope) I do.
I thought that was a reflection that happens many times amongst the generations of todays birders.
good to see that Bill is returning from his personal hole.
|
Login
FAQ
Search
