This subcategory of the Soundmap is dedicated to capturing and identifying animal sounds. This research is valuable to biologists and wildlife specialists in documenting where and when species are present. The Soundmap can help researchers understand how animals behave in different environments, and how their communication (squeaks, calls, songs, etc.) may shift over time. It is also helpful should populations decline, either to preserve how they sounded, or serves as a record of where they thrived, assisting reintroduction efforts in the future.
The main type of animal documented in the Soundmap is birds. Birds have distinct calls that often define a soundscape. When writing about soundscapes, students frequently highlight birdsongs as keynotes; so they have been given a special map all their own!
Not an ornithologist? No problem. The Claremont Colleges Soundmap works in collaboration with Merlin® by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology—an international database of bird calls designed to help anyone identify birds by sound. After you download the app (search: Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab) on the App Store or Google Play, simply press “Sound ID” on the main page to start recording. Merlin® will analyze the audio in real time, offering the best matches based on your location. Make sure to keep an eye out for the bird itself to help you identify it! Once identified, Merlin® will help you keep track of your sightings. With this information, if you choose to share it, Cornell Labs maintains their own soundmap, which improves the applications accuracy with every submission.
Then, don’t forget to upload a recording to the Claremont Colleges Soundmap! Take a picture, write about your experience, you’ll find it all here on the map.
