If your goal is to learn birds by sight and sound, the Thayer Birding Software is definitely the tool for you!
[Updated May 2020]
This post contains affiliate links for which Expedition Wildlife may receive a commission (where applicable) at no additional cost to you.
**Update as of April 2020: Pete Thayer, the creator of the Thayer Birding Software, has made this program FREE TO EVERYONE in response to the recent Coronavirus outbreak. These are difficult times, and turning to birds for solace is a great idea. Use code “PeteThayerFree” at checkout!
**Update as of May 2020: Sadly, the Thayer Software will be winding down and no more updates of the software will be released. However, the current and FREE version of the software works just fine with operating systems that run 32-bit programs. I highly recommend you still take advantage of downloading and using this wonderful software!!
How I got onto the Thayer Birding Software
When I first started working in the birding world, the birds I knew well were those at my backyard feeder. I could identify a handful of common birds, but I couldn’t pick their songs out of a lineup. Nor could I tell the difference between a male and a female, or a juvenile and a separate species altogether.
Truthfully, with so many bird species, it can be overwhelming to learn new birds by sight, much less also by sound.
My first birding job was working as an avian point count technician on a Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) project in Southern Indiana. Photo by Josh Suich
In my first job working as a bird point count technician, we were required to know all birds in the region by sight and sound. These were official surveys, so I had to learn as many birds as possible in a short period of time.
The crew was given the Thayer Birding Software to work on our birding skills.
With around two months to prepare myself, including some field time to practice, I was able to learn my birds well with the software!
Here are the awesome features offered by the Thayer Birding Software
Learning visual and aural characteristics is critical in bird ID. The Thayer Birding Software is the most comprehensive program for training yourself to identify birds in North America.
It includes:
- A field guide, comprehensive for all the birds one could spot in North America.
- An ID wizard, allowing the ability to identify birds after a field visit or backyard bird observation.
- The Birder’s Handbook, a guide that every birder should have available to them to enhance their knowledge about all things birds.
- QUIZZES, which take birders to the next level by providing a means to truly learn and practice bird identification skills.
The Software can also be coupled with the RavenLite 2.0 Software through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. RavenLite is a free spectrogram software that integrates with Thayer for you to view bird sound waves! How cool is that?
Field Guide excerpt of the Thayer Birding Software interface. Check out all those details!
This program is, without a doubt, what every birder should have in their repertoire.
Check out our favorite places to go birdwatching in the USA!
What the Software can be used for
While this doesn’t replace the benefits of actually being outside to watch and listen to birds, we don’t always have the luxury of having birds right outside our door. This is especially true in wintertime or when birds are less active after the breeding season.
You can learn birds of other regions before you even step foot in that location. I learned the birds of Western Washington in wintertime using the Thayer Birding Software. I had never birded in Washington before!
What’s great is the Thayer Birding Software is meant for everyone. It can be used to:
- Prep to visit a birding festival.
- Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count.
- Simply better understand the birds you see in your backyard or local park.
Having a trained eye and ear can help greatly with identification. Some species can look similar to others, so learning sounds can be such a big help.
Within a handful of months of arriving to Washington State, I’d earned a position working with a nonprofit on Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) surveys and reintroduction. Photo by Christa Rolls
Why am I crazy about this software?
Well, because it has worked for me time and again. I swear by it and wholeheartedly recommend it to any birder looking to enhance their bird knowledge.
And frankly, the cost of this software is a steal. At just under $50 for downloading the program or $64 for a physical USB flash drive, the price can’t be beaten.**
**Note: as of April 2020, Pete Thayer, creator of the Thayer Birding Software, has made this program FREE TO EVERYONE in response to the recent Coronavirus outbreak. These are difficult times, and turning to birds for solace is a great idea.
What’s even more incredible is that Pete Thayer, the creator of Thayer Birding, has made the program free to kids 18 and under to encourage them to LEARN BIRDS!
Teachers, students, and wildlife professionals can also get the program for half-price. If you don’t qualify for any of these categories, Expedition Wildlife has a special promo code you can use at checkout to get a $5 discount.
- Young Birders use code “ThayerYoungBirder” at checkout.
- Teachers, Students, and Wildlife Professionals use either “Teacher,” “Student,” or “Wildlife” at checkout.
- For the Expedition Wildlife promo, use code “ExpeditionWildlife” at checkout.
Remember, the codes offered by Pete are based on the honor code – please respect it and Pete’s generosity!
Visit www.thayerbirding.com to access all information about the Program, and to purchase either the Mac or PC-friendly version of the software.
Are there any downsides?
While I have a difficult time nit-picking things about this software, this program does take up quite a bit of space on your computer – approximately 7 GB.
Depending on your processor, your computer may run a little slower if it is on the older side of its life. You’ll need to ensure you have a good internet connection for the download process.
Additionally, the Thayer Birding Software can’t be accessed directly from your phone. However, it is arguably better that you are paying more attention while you’re in the field.
Instead, observewhat you are seeing and record those observations, then bring them back and cross-reference them with your field guide and sightings in the program.
Once you train your mind to learn birds, just as you would learning another language, the possibilities are endless…
There you have it, birders and prospective birders!
Are you planning to learn birds? Will you be using Thayer Birding in the near future? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Birding!
Christa and Nathan
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