My birding by ear affliction isn’t that I can’t hear birds; it is that I can’t not hear them. Even when I am on the phone with my friends.
American Crow on ice – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
If my friends or family are outside when we are talking on the phone I simply can’t stop listening for birds or trying to identify them via their songs or calls. I also can’t stop myself from saying “I hear crows” or the name of whatever bird it is that I can hear. I just blurt it out. If I don’t recognize the song or call my brain stores it away so I can hopefully figure it out later.
Barred Owl and Spanish Moss in Florida – Nikon D200, f5.6, 1/250, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Or if I am talking to a birding or bird photographer friend I can ask them if I am correct with my sound identification and not feel like such a complete and utter bird geek. If I am talking with family or loved ones who know me well then they already know I am a bird geek. They may have already heard me imitating a Barred Owl’s call of “who cooks for you” or describing the call of some other species.
Blue Jay in Salt Lake County – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
My problem is that I simply can’t help myself. If I am hearing a bird call or sound in person, on TV, or on the phone my brain automatically, or maybe even auto-magically, goes into identification mode.
Maybe I have a personality flaw? If I do I think I will call it “flawesome” because that very same trait always helps me find my subjects when I am in the field.
I am Mia and I am hopelessly addicted to birds.
Life is good.
Mia
Also see this post: I Am Never NOT Looking For Birds
Click here to see more of my bird photos.
Definitely a feature not a bug in your inner “programming!” 😀 I also go into automatic ID mode in several situations.
Thank you for sharing the unusual call of the Barred Owl. It sounds almost Canid to my ears. Of course, I’m a dog-geek more than a bird-nerd. 😉
I don’t recognize as many sounds as you do but I do the same. My husband can’t hear or see birds when I point them out, he tells me I am making up stories there isn’t anything there. My friends are nicer, the birding friends say where? my non birding friends usually say something to the effect of Oh that’s nice.
Affliction? It sounds like a non religious benediction to me.
Happy New Year, Mia. I too got a huge smile reading today’s post. I saw my first short eared owl at the Rocky Mt Arsenal over the holiday and thought of you and how you seem to find them so easily🥰😉
Flawesome post! 😁
This put a smile on my face—a different kind of smile than the one I get from you daily!
As always, thank you!!
As far as Barred Owls are concerned check out the Sibley app Range Map for this bird… then compare it to the Range Map of the Pileated Woodpecker – amazingly similar… Now look for Colorado on both maps… 😳
You want Barred Owls? Hear ’em here in rural SW Washington most every evening and night.
What a delightful post Mia! I happily and unapologetically share your affliction!!!!