Bird Songs of Alaska

Leonard J. Peyton | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 20, 1999)
• Original Release Date: July 20, 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• ASIN: B00002JNQL
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,876 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #59 in Music > Indie Music > Miscellaneous > Sound Effects

Track Listings

1. tracks, recorded by more than 50 dedicated field workers, covering 267 species of birds. Includes tracks of characteristic Alaskan species such as Emporer Goose, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Whiskered Auklet, Arctic Warbler, Bluethroat, and Yellow Wagtail.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bird songs beyond 'chirp', December 15, 1999

By 

Christine T. Scott (British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Songs of Alaska (Audio CD)

The melodies we hear deep within a forest are entrancing vocalizations of tiny birds that usually cannot be seen. Their songs add an element of musical pleasure to our nature walks. As singers, birds are truly amazing. They are gifted with a syrinx which, unlike the human larynx, is capable of emitting two sounds at once. A Veery can even sing two-part harmony with itself!

When love is in the air, most birds make music; some sing while others merely drum out a beat. The rest of the time, their vocalization is largely through calls or other sounds. An amorous male Sage Grouse is a noisy fellow, what with the popping, swishing, and bubbling noises he makes in pursuit of his lady fair. Sometimes one bird species has several songs and a few calls as well.

A winter wren's tiny body quivers as it delivers up to 113 separate notes in a single song. Woodpeckers are rattlers and drummers, not singers, and robins may be one of the few birds that actually say 'Chirp'. Most ducks quack, but some also meow. Owls are famous for their booming who-ooo, but the short-eared owl barks. Loons wail and growl as well as singing the haunting tremolo Canadians are familiar with. The tiny chickadee whistles a sweet 'fee-bee' and rock doves coo as most doves do.

Many birders agree that the key to identifying birds is in their vocalizations, as some species look very similar. Recognizing bird songs can be challenging at best, but to make matters worse, mimics like starlings and northern mockingbirds actually steal other birds' songs!

Imagine filling your home with this medley of bird sounds every day of the year. Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology has just released a new two-CD set entitled Bird Songs of Alaska. You can listen to musical samples by visiting the Lab's web site.

Bird Songs of Alaska is one of the most complete compilations of BC and Alaskan bird sound recordings ever made. Casual listeners, researchers, and serious birders alike will thrill to the voices of 267 bird species collected by 50 field workers in North American parks and forests. It is interesting to note that a full 190 of these are BC birds as listed in the popular field guide 'Birds of Coastal British Columbia'.

The quality of these recordings is exquisite; the sound cuts are long and leisurely. The CD set comes with a booklet that lists common and scientific names and tells where each bird was recorded. And best of all, each species is assigned its own track number for rapid access and quick reference.

5.0 out of 5 stars This track is AWESOME !!, April 29, 2011

By 

Junia "TruthHunteress" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Songs of Alaska (Audio CD)

I just want to say I am a simple SAHM living in AK with a little boy who LOVES wild birds. I put this on for him regularily(we've had it for about a month now)and he's starting to say "American Robin" (and others) now when he hears them outside!! For us it has been one wonderful way to help our children connect with nature.