Incoming!!
So today started with much promise for getting things done and I did get quite a few errands and writing accomplished, but not as much as I wanted. I'm trying to find a digital recorder that won't cost an arm and a leg, is Mac compatible, and can pick up ambient bird sounds if I'm interviewing someone outside. I've been trying to ask around for opinions but get either, "oh I'm sure you'll find that" to "here's something that's perfect for picking up sounds 200 yards away and can be ordered from such and such and then jerry rigged to do such and such". I will say, a guy named Rich Peet showed me a very cool microphone that attaches to a brimmed hat that you can record while you walk--the brim blocks out some of your stomping as you walk. The downside is that you would need to wear the mic with the stereotypical birder's hat and I don't know if I can do that.
The one thing I don't like about being a birder is the wardrobe. Couldn't we come up with some fancier duds? Is it too much to ask for the occasional form flattering shirt or pants? The endless khaki, the vests and don't even get me started about the whole tuck the pants into the socks bit. It's bad enough that the birder dress code requires that we dress like geeks looking for someone to beat us up, but it's often made worse by the accessories. Have any of you guys seen the walking sticks that double for a sort of chair? I'm sorry but old people sitting on what appears to be a stick up their butt is not attractive at all--and it really doesn't look comfortable either...wow, where did that rant come from?
Anyway, I thought I had found the recorder I needed was Mac compatible, but alas non-birding Bill can only find updates for the software needed to download the sound files and not the software itself. Judging by the amount of profanity still coming from the living room, I think I will be taking the recorder back to Best Buy.
On the upside, I did have another fun afternoon with the trumpeter swans out at Monticello. I did discover that the digital camera I'm using takes videos and maybe I can use the audio from that to do what I want.
Canada geese and trumpeter swans loafing and feeding in Monticello, MN.
What could be worse than yellow snow...brownish green snow--ew.