The Sound Approach to Birding - digital version

Back in the summer of 2006 in a review of The Sound Approach to Birding written by BirdGuides co-founder Dave Gosney, author Mark Constantine was quoted as hoping the book would "give us a breakthrough in bird sound identification similar to that brought about by the late Peter Grant when his 'New Approach' led us to be so much more aware of how to identify and describe the different feather-tracts and understand the different moult sequences."

Nearly eight years later, Mark and the Sound Approach team can look back with some satisfaction that the original Sound Approach and later titles such as Catching the Bug have not only led us all to be more aware of bird sounds and the key role they can play in the identification of many species, but have begun to bring the recording of bird sounds and their analysis firmly into the mainstream of birding.

This revolution in awareness has meant that switched-on birders are as likely to reach for the iPhone voice recorder as the camera when faced with certain tricky species in the field. Just this month this was ably demonstrated by a large pipit on the East Yorkshire coast that visually resembled Blyth's Pipit. Sound recordings were made, and comparison of the sonograms produced by the recording immediately helped to resolve the identification as Richard's Pipit. Looking at and understanding such sonograms may have been restricted to a real minority a decade ago, but that is changing rapidly and we have the Sound Approach team to thank for kick-starting the revolution.

Why wait eight years before launching a digital version? Well, it appears that the small Sound Approach team have gone through a learning curve with the technology, particularly the digital representations and animations of the sonograms that they now call 'esonograms'. Understandably, they didn't want to release until the product was well and truly nailed, so to speak. And nailed it they have: the esonograms that lie at the heart of the digital version and bring the book to life at the tap and swipe of a finger on iPhone and iPad are simple to use and function exactly as needed. Taking the time to deliver the right solution has refreshed the original concept and brought it bang up to date.

The original text of the Sound Approach stands the test of time and is as relevant as a guide to understanding bird sound as it was the day it was published. With introductory sections explaining tone and timbre, pitch and frequency, and rhythm and timing, the guide leads the reader on an audio journey through simple calls and song to topics such as modulation and intensity before before heading into the more complex territories of ageing bird sounds, mimicry and hybridisation. Much of the learning is through direct comparison between similar species pairings, from Chiffchaff/Willow Warbler calls to Sykes's and Booted Warblers. The astutely annotated esonograms all the while provide an eye-opening audiovisual accompaniment to the readable first-person text filled with personal anecdotes and reflections on the subject matter.

While the sexed-up esonograms will take all the attention, I can't help but highlight the Sound Approach team's nod to their traditional birding roots. A drop-down in the menu accesses a digital notebook allowing the user to highlight words, passages of text and via a simple tap on the Notes icon enter their own notes, bringing the once ubiquitous and essential notebook screaming up to date into the digital age.

If you didn't buy into the original Sound Approach, you have been missing out on an incredible journey of exploration into bird sound. The digital version enhances and simplifies access to this journey superbly. If you have the original and have access to an iPad, upgrade; if you haven't yet cupped your ear to the Sound Approach, buy it! The digital version will stand the test of time and a decade from now will be rightly seen as a further game-changing evolution in birding.

More on the Sound Approach can be found at www.soundapproach.co.uk, while the digital version can be purchased via the iTunes store.