Re: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania

2014-10-01 Thread Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes 
As a result of the message from Michael, I took a closer look at Geoff's buzz 
call and compared it to the call of a known Dickcissel I recorded for a true 
side-by-side comparison. It is clear to me now that I was mistaken in my first 
evaluation.

In re-evaluating the buzz call, I played back the sounds at 1/4 speed and, to 
my surprise, the buzz call does in fact have more modulation as compared to a 
classic flatulent-sounding Dickcissel NFC. Also, although very close, the buzz 
call does not quite fall within the same frequency bounds (at least in 
comparing these two calls).

When played back at 1/4 speed, the modulation produces a very musical quavering 
sound (liquid quality, per Michael). Each note within the classic Dickcissel 
call is distinctively separate, giving it a more stuttered (still somewhat 
musical but laser-like) sound. Again, this is at 1/4 speed.

At full speed, the call in question is so tightly modulated that it gives an 
initial perception of a faster and more buzzy Dickcissel call. However, slowing 
it down helps to reveal the true texture of the sound.

Please listen to the attached files for comparisons.

Note: I used Audacity to initially match the sampling rates (the buzz call was 
sampled at 44.1 kHz, while the Dickcissel call was sampled at 22.05 kHz) so 
they could be played back-to-back in the same file. Next, I used another 
feature of Audacity to "slow" the sounds down upon playback. As far as I can 
tell, this latter feature simply shifts all samples into a lower frequency (so, 
don't use the 1/2 and 1/4 speed files to measure either call frequencies).

In conclusion, I would concur with Michael that this is probably an odd 
Rose-breasted Grosbeak call. I have heard this before, just not that 
frequently. Which reminds me how different and bizarre some night flight calls 
can be, within a single species. There are so many aspects with respect to how 
a bird's age, sex, or geographical origin can play a role in the different call 
types within the same species – all of this is yet to be discovered in this 
developing field of study.

Good night listening!

Sincerely,
Chris T-H

Attached files.

[see attached file: Unknown_and_Dickcissel_Full Speed.wav] [see attached file: 
Unknown_and_Dickcissel_Half Speed.wav] [see attached file: 
Unknown_and_Dickcissel_Quarter Speed.wav]


On Sep 22, 2014, at 11:11 PM, Michael O'Brien 
mailto:tsw...@comcast.net>> wrote:

Geoff et al,

To my ear, this sounds like the buzzy variation of Rose-breasted Grosbeak that 
is often given in fall (perhaps by immatures?). It has more of a liquid 
quality, and maybe a bit more of a rising inflection than is typical of 
Dickcissel. There are good examples of this call on the Evans & O'Brien CD-Rom.

Good listening,
Michael O'Brien

Michael O'Brien
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
www.ventbird.com

On Sep 22, 2014, at 12:10 AM, "Geoff Malosh" 
mailto:pomar...@earthlink.net>> wrote:

Hi all,

I heard the attached buzz-type call on the morning of Sept 19 during the very 
large flight over the Pittsburgh suburbs I posted about a few days ago. My 
first thought was Dickcissel when I heard in real time it but a few people have 
commented that it doesn’t sound exactly right in the attached recording, which 
is true. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was the other immediate thought . . . 
any other possibilities?

The call in question is at 2.6 seconds into the clip. The same or a different 
bird sounds like it calls a few tenths of a second before that. Thanks for any 
comments.

Geoff Malosh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Geoff Malosh | Editor, Pennsylvania Birds
450 Amherst Avenue | Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 | 412.735.3128
pomar...@earthlink.net | 
http://home.earthlink.net/~pomarine/index.html
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Re: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania

2014-09-22 Thread Michael O'Brien 
Geoff et al,

To my ear, this sounds like the buzzy variation of Rose-breasted Grosbeak that 
is often given in fall (perhaps by immatures?). It has more of a liquid 
quality, and maybe a bit more of a rising inflection than is typical of 
Dickcissel. There are good examples of this call on the Evans & O'Brien CD-Rom. 

Good listening,
Michael O'Brien

Michael O'Brien
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
www.ventbird.com

> On Sep 22, 2014, at 12:10 AM, "Geoff Malosh"  wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
>  
> I heard the attached buzz-type call on the morning of Sept 19 during the very 
> large flight over the Pittsburgh suburbs I posted about a few days ago. My 
> first thought was Dickcissel when I heard in real time it but a few people 
> have commented that it doesn’t sound exactly right in the attached recording, 
> which is true. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was the other immediate thought 
> . . . any other possibilities?
>  
> The call in question is at 2.6 seconds into the clip. The same or a different 
> bird sounds like it calls a few tenths of a second before that. Thanks for 
> any comments.
>  
> Geoff Malosh
> Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
>  
>  
> Geoff Malosh | Editor, Pennsylvania Birds
> 450 Amherst Avenue | Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 | 412.735.3128 
> pomar...@earthlink.net | http://home.earthlink.net/~pomarine/index.html
> ===
> Pennsylvania Birds is published by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology
>   Preview the latest issue: http://www.pabirds.org/pabirds/pb_sample.html
>   Subscription information: http://www.pabirds.org/PSOJoin.htm
>  
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Re: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania

2014-09-22 Thread Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes 
Just a quick note. I'd concur that this is likely a Dickcissel. It falls in the 
right frequency bounds for Dickcissel. It seems to have a few more "p's" in 
that "fpppt" call than we might expect for Dickcissel. It's quality is not one 
of musicality, which we might expect for a call with fully modulated and 
inter-connected parts. The disconnected nature (lack of modulation) in 
Dickcissel call is what seems to give it that "frappy" or flatulent quality. 
Someone once described the call as similar in quality to a piece of the sound 
kids use to make when the placed baseball cards in their bike spokes and rode 
around the neighborhood. Kids don't do that anymore, but I can envision this 
sound in my memory.

I recorded a couple of Dickcissels during last weekend's movement of birds. 
Will post at a later time.

Sincerely,
Chris T-H


On Sep 21, 2014, at 11:29 PM, Jay K 
mailto:azure@earthlink.net>> wrote:


Geoff,



Good recording - almost TOO good.  I think it sounds right for Dickcissel, but 
perhaps what has folks concerned is that it almost echoes in the recording, but 
probably in life it was the short, flat, almost truncated "fpppt" to which 
we're accustomed.  The only other bird I could think of that would be similar 
would be Blue Grosbeak, but it isn't "musical" enough, nor does it have the 
slight variance in pitch that that species exhibits.



Jay Keller,

San Diego, CA

-Original Message-
From: Geoff Malosh
Sent: Sep 21, 2014 9:10 PM
To: NFC-L
Subject: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania


Hi all,

I heard the attached buzz-type call on the morning of Sept 19 during the very 
large flight over the Pittsburgh suburbs I posted about a few days ago. My 
first thought was Dickcissel when I heard in real time it but a few people have 
commented that it doesn’t sound exactly right in the attached recording, which 
is true. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was the other immediate thought . . . 
any other possibilities?

The call in question is at 2.6 seconds into the clip. The same or a different 
bird sounds like it calls a few tenths of a second before that. Thanks for any 
comments.

Geoff Malosh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


Geoff Malosh | Editor, Pennsylvania Birds
450 Amherst Avenue | Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 | 412.735.3128
pomar...@earthlink.net<mailto:pomar...@earthlink.net> | 
http://home.earthlink.net/~pomarine/index.html
===
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Christopher T. Tessaglia-Hymes
Field Applications Engineer
Bioacoustics Research Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850
W: 607-254-2418   M: 607-351-5740   F: 607-254-1132
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/brp


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Re: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania

2014-09-21 Thread Jay K 
Geoff,
 
Good recording - almost TOO good.  I think it sounds right for Dickcissel, but perhaps what has folks concerned is that it almost echoes in the recording, but probably in life it was the short, flat, almost truncated "fpppt" to which we're accustomed.  The only other bird I could think of that would be similar would be Blue Grosbeak, but it isn't "musical" enough, nor does it have the slight variance in pitch that that species exhibits.
 
Jay Keller,
San Diego, CA
-Original Message- From: Geoff Malosh Sent: Sep 21, 2014 9:10 PM To: NFC-L Subject: [nfc-l] Buzz call over western Pennsylvania 



Hi all,
 
I heard the attached buzz-type call on the morning of Sept 19 during the very large flight over the Pittsburgh suburbs I posted about a few days ago. My first thought was Dickcissel when I heard in real time it but a few people have commented that it doesn’t sound exactly right in the attached recording, which is true. Northern Rough-winged Swallow was the other immediate thought . . . any other possibilities? 
 
The call in question is at 2.6 seconds into the clip. The same or a different bird sounds like it calls a few tenths of a second before that. Thanks for any comments.
 
Geoff Malosh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 
 
Geoff Malosh | Editor, Pennsylvania Birds 
450 Amherst Avenue | Moon Township, PA 15108-2654 | 412.735.3128  
pomar...@earthlink.net | http://home.earthlink.net/~pomarine/index.html 
=== 
Pennsylvania Birds is published by the Pennsylvania Society for Ornithology 
  Preview the latest issue: http://www.pabirds.org/pabirds/pb_sample.html 
  Subscription information: http://www.pabirds.org/PSOJoin.htm 
 
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