Recording bird sounds can be a very rewarding hobby or even a valuable professional endeavor for ornithologists, sound engineers, and nature documentary producers. However, it requires careful planning and the right equipment to get high-quality audio recordings of birds singing, calling, and going about their daily activities. Here are some key considerations when seeking the best way to record bird sounds:
Why Record Bird Sounds?
There are many great reasons to record bird vocalizations:
- Create an audio birding journal to help with bird identification and revisiting birding experiences
- Capture rare or unusual bird sounds to contribute to scientific research and conservation efforts
- Produce professional nature sound effects or background audio for films, commercials, and other media
- Sample bird sounds to integrate into musical compositions
- Develop an educational audio library to share with students and community groups
- Document how certain species’ calls change over time or in different habitats
Having clear goals will help guide your equipment choices and recording approach.
Choose the Right Recorder
One of the most critical gear decisions is selecting a high-quality audio recorder fit for field use. Key factors to consider include:
- Audio quality: Look for a recorder with a high sampling rate (96 kHz) and bit depth (24 bit) to capture the full frequency range of bird sounds.
- Microphone options: Models that allow external mics to be plugged in give greater flexibility vs. builtin mics alone.
- Weather resistance: Look for water, dust, and shockproofing for recording in all conditions.
- Battery life: Units with long battery life allow you to record over extended periods.
- Storage capacity: More GB capacity means you can record long audio files without swapping memory cards.
- Gain controls: Being able to adjust input levels is key for quality recordings.
- Usability: Devices with simple interfaces work better than complex menus when recording action in the field.
Popular field recorders range from the Zoom H5 to Tascam DR-40X to the high-end Sound Devices MixPre-6 II.
Use a Directional Microphone
The built-in mics on most portable recorders are omnidirectional and prone to capturing ambient noise. Directional external microphones greatly improve sound isolation and quality:
- Shotgun: A shotgun mic with a tight polar pattern can isolate birds at a distance while minimizing peripheral sounds.
- Parabolic: Parabolic dish microphones excel at capturing distant bird sounds with precision.
- Lavalier: A lavalier mic clipped to vegetation near an active nest or perch site provides focused audio.
- Stereo mic: A stereo field mic delivers immersive audio with natural panning when birds move.
Choose a microphone suited for your particular recording application.
Master Microphone Technique
Proper microphone handling in the field results in clearer, more professional-grade recordings:
- Use a windscreen to reduce wind noise, pops, and distortion.
- Get as close to the sound source as possible, rather than cranking up the input gain.
- Angle the mic correctly relative to the sound source to take advantage of its polarization.
- For handheld mics, use a grip or shockmount to prevent handling noise.
- Mount the mic on a boom pole to precisely position it near vocalizing birds.
- Minimize vibrations when using a tripod by placing on a soft, stable surface.
Refine your technique to capture bird sounds as cleanly as possible.
Choose Sites Strategically
Certain locales lend themselves better to recording undisturbed bird vocalizations:
- Forest clearings where birds congregate away from busy habitat edges.
- Wetlands early in the morning when bird activity peaks.
- Sparsely traveled hiking trails rather than crowded parks.
- Open water from a canoe or kayak to get close to waterbirds.
- Near known nests sites, arriving before dawn when birds are most vocal.
- Blinds near feeders draw in a diversity of species to record.
Seek sites with ideal conditions to make the most of your recording time.
Track Activity Cycles
Birds have daily and seasonal vocalization patterns you can take advantage of:
- In spring, record dawn chorus and evening twilight when singing peaks.
- Late winter is ideal for capturing early migrants’ vocalizations.
- Summer evenings capture the dusk chatter of breeding birds.
- During nesting seasons, arrive before dawn when activity starts.
- At feeders, bird activity may be highest in mornings and evenings.
Learn species’ habits and schedule your recording sessions accordingly.
Use Stealth Methods
Being quiet and concealed will allow you to record birds behaving naturally:
- Use a blind or hide to stay out of sight.
- Wear muted colors to blend into the surroundings.
- Approach vocalization posts slowly and keep a low profile.
- Ensure wind is blowing your scent away from birds.
- Remain still once equipment is positioned to not startle birds.
- Use a remote control or app to start recording away from the mic.
The more birds ignore your presence, the better quality recordings you can produce.
Consider Ethics
When recording birds, adhere to ethical guidelines:
- Never disrupt nesting or cause undue stress.
- Avoid using playback calls to draw in birds during sensitive periods.
- Get appropriate permits if working in protected areas.
- Don’t trespass onto private property.
- Share recordings responsibly by providing background and getting releases if publishing commercially.
Let responsible recording practices positively impact birds long-term.
Edit Your Recordings
Use audio editing software to clean up and enhance your recordings after a session:
- Cut out sections with excessive background noise.
- Normalize levels between recordings.
- Add fades in and out to smooth transitions.
- Utilize noise reduction filters to suppress constant sounds like wind or traffic.
- Compress dynamic range for consistent volume.
- Pan stereo channels for spatial effect.
- Equalize to boost key frequencies and remove rumble.
Quality post-processing makes your recordings more listenable.
Conclusion
Recording wild bird sounds takes some technical know-how and fieldcraft, but the ability to immortalize birdsong and bird calls is an invaluable skill for hobbyists and professionals alike. Focus on using appropriate high-quality gear, proper microphone techniques, finding ideal recording locations, timing sessions to birds’ habits, discreet field methods, and judiciously editing audio files after the fact. Follow this advice for the best results when recording our feathered friends!
Recorder | Microphone |
---|---|
Zoom H5 | Sennheiser ME 66 |
Tascam DR-40X | Audio-Technica AT8024 |
Sound Devices MixPre-6 II | Rode NT5 |
Location | Best Time to Record |
---|---|
Forest clearings | Dawn and dusk |
Wetlands | Early morning |
Sparsely traveled trails | Anytime |
Open water | Morning |
Near nests | Before dawn |
Feeders with blinds | Morning and evening |