The Audubon bird clock is a charming and educational clock that features colorful images of North American birds in place of numbers or hash marks to indicate the time. At the top of each hour, mechanical birds pop out of the clock to sing the birds’ song. This unique clock allows you to learn to identify common backyard birds by sight and sound. Keep reading to learn more about how this creative clock works!
What is the Audubon Bird Clock?
The Audubon bird clock is a clock designed to teach people about North American birds. It was created by the National Audubon Society, an American non-profit organization dedicated to conservation. The clock features 12 colorful images of different bird species in place of regular numbers or hash marks around the clock face. Every hour, on the hour, mechanical birds pop out of the clock and sing the unique song of that bird species to indicate the time. For example, at 3 o’clock a Northern Cardinal pops out and chirps, and at 6 o’clock a Black-capped Chickadee appears and sings.
What Birds are Featured on the Clock?
Here are the 12 birds featured on the Audubon bird clock:
12 o’clock | Eastern Bluebird |
1 o’clock | Black-capped Chickadee |
2 o’clock | Tufted Titmouse |
3 o’clock | Northern Cardinal |
4 o’clock | Carolina Wren |
5 o’clock | House Finch |
6 o’clock | Mourning Dove |
7 o’clock | Blue Jay |
8 o’clock | American Goldfinch |
9 o’clock | Downy Woodpecker |
10 o’clock | Red-bellied Woodpecker |
11 o’clock | Dark-eyed Junco |
The birds were carefully selected by ornithology experts to represent common backyard birds across North America. They include a mix of colorful songbirds, woodpeckers, and doves.
How Does the Clock Move?
The Audubon bird clock contains a high quality quartz clock movement inside that drives the clock hands. The quartz movement uses a quartz crystal oscillator and digital counters to keep very accurate time without needing to be manually wound like old-fashioned mechanical clocks.
The bird figures are attached to metal rods that are wired to the clock movement. On each hour, the clock movement triggers the rod to slide forward, pushing the bird figure outward from its hole so it pops out. Then a recording of that bird’s unique call plays through a speaker in the clock. After several seconds, the rod slides back in, retracting the bird into the clock until the next hour.
How are the Bird Calls Made?
The Audubon Society went to great lengths to make sure each bird call is an accurate reproduction of that species’ vocalizations. They used recordings from the Macaulay Library, the world’s largest archive of animal sounds run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This ensured each call matches the timing, frequency, and quality of real birds.
The calls were digitally mastered to optimize audio quality. They play from a high-quality speaker inside the clock. Volume controls on the back allow you to adjust the volume up or down as needed.
How Should the Clock be Used?
The Audubon bird clock makes a great educational tool for teaching children to identify common backyard birds by sight and sound. It was designed to hang on a wall in a high-traffic area of your home, such as a kitchen, family room, or hallway.
We recommend using the clock as an interactive game for kids to match the popping bird with its photo on the clock. Over time, family members will memorize the birds and calls associated with each hour. Place a bird guide book next to the clock so people can look up facts on their favorite birds.
The clock should be used indoors only to prevent damage from weather or moisture. Only use batteries recommended by the manufacturer for best performance. Be sure to adjust the volume so the calls are audible but not overwhelmingly loud.
Where Can You Buy the Audubon Bird Clock?
The National Audubon Society sells the official Audubon bird clock through their online store at www.audubon.org. It retails for $170.
Select retailers like Pottery Barn and Wild Birds Unlimited also sell the clock online and in some stores. Prices range from $150-200 depending on the retailer.
You may also be able to find used clocks on resale sites like eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or Craigslist. Availability of used clocks will depend on your location.
Different Versions of the Clock
The Audubon Society has created different versions of their popular bird clock over the years:
Classic Edition
The classic edition features the 12 original bird species on a round wooden clock. It plays bird calls CDs rather than digital recordings. This version measures 16 inches diameter.
Mini Edition
A smaller 10 inch diameter clock with 8 common backyard birds. Features digital recordings of bird vocalizations.
Songbirds Edition
A larger 18 inch diameter wooden clock featuring 12 songbird species. This version has CD recordings of the bird songs.
Forest Edition
A compact 10 inch square clock with 12 forest-dwelling bird species. It uses digital audio playback for the bird calls.
Tropical Edition
A colorful 12 inch round clock with tropical birds like parrots, toucans, and birds of paradise. It utilizes digital recordings of exotic bird vocalizations.
So in summary, there are different clock designs released over time, but they all operate on the same principles to teach bird recognition through sight and sound.
The History of the Audubon Bird Clock
The original Audubon bird clock first launched in the 1980s after about two years of development and testing. It was manufactured by the German clockmaker Bulova.
The American ornithologist Dr. Robert Ridgely selected the 12 common North American backyard birds to feature on the clock. The bird illustrations were painted by artist Arthur Singer.
In the 1990s, production of the clock moved to the Seiko Corporation. They continued manufacturing the clock through the early 2000s.
In 2015, the National Audubon Society worked with musician and bird enthusiast Christopher Wheeldon of Morph Moments to reinvent the clock using digital technology. This version featured updated audio recordings.
Over 300,000 Audubon bird clocks have been sold to date. Sales help support the educational programs of the National Audubon Society. The clock remains one of their most popular products.
How the Clock Teaches Bird Recognition
The Audubon bird clock helps teach the following bird identification skills:
- Visual recognition – Matching birds with their images on the clock face
- Auditory recognition – Recognizing species by their unique calls
- Association – Linking each hour to the bird that sounds at that time
- Memorization – Remembering the names, images, and calls
- Information lookup – Researching birds in field guides
These skills are picked up through daily passive observation of the clock over weeks and months. The clock turns casual viewers into engaged birdwatchers by giving them a reason to pay attention to common backyard species.
Studies show we remember information better when learned through multiple senses like sight, sound, and touch. The hands-on interactivity makes the clock a powerful sensory learning tool. The variety of birds keeps people engaged and eager to learn more.
Conclusion
The Audubon bird clock is more than just a timepiece – it’s an interactive learning experience for all ages. As a highlight in your home, it turns telling time into an opportunity to make learning about birds fun and memorable. The combination of technology, artistry, and nature come together to create a tool that educates while bringing beauty into your home. Let the Audubon bird clock awaken your curiosity in the unique birds that share our world!