Birding Computer Software

I want to order this CD-ROM
Birds of North America CD-ROM version 2.5
Thayer Birding Software (it is faster to order directly from them at 800-865-2473)
$70.00
For Windows 95, Windows 98 or NT

This CD-ROM is the best example of the new technology that combines photos, songs, videos, side-by-side comparisons and much more in a field guide for your computer. This is the future for learning to identify birds by sight and sound! This CD-ROM includes over 3,100 color photos that you can zoom up to 400% of the original size. There are 121 video clips of birds showing typical behavior. The 696 songs from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology are of exceptional quality -- and really set this CD-ROM apart from other very good CD-ROMs by Peterson and Audubon. In addition, you can actually see pictures of the bird's songs - called sonograms. The program even lets you see a picture of your own voice! The best part of the CD-ROM is the 250 quizzes. You set the difficulty level at "Easy", "Not So Easy" or "Hurt Me Plenty." Quizzes can be taken as multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks or as flash cards. The entire contents of The Birder's Handbook is included in this CD-ROM in electronic format. There is also an Avian Jukebox and an entire section on birding Hot Spots, reviews of binoculars and scopes, bird clubs you can join, links to birding web sites and more. The CD-ROM covers every bird ever seen in the US (excluding Hawaii) or Canada. Version 2.5 also lets you make your own quizzes and screen savers. The nice part is that there are free updates at the Thayer Birding Software web site as new birds are seen or old birds are "split." You can really tell a birder developed this CD-ROM!

I want to order this CD-ROM
The National Audubon Society Interactive CD-ROM Guide to North American Birds
National Audubon Society
$56.95
CD-ROM fro Windows or Macintosh

This is the right CD-ROM if you have a Macintosh computer. It includes over 1700 color photos. The CD-ROM covers the 723 breeding birds of North America. The section on habitat descriptions is excellent! Bird descriptions are extensive and are taken from the Audubon guides. The CD-ROM works on both Windows and Macintosh machines (some users have had problems running in Windows). The sound quality is OK except for high pitched birds like warblers -- then it is very buzzy. The CD-ROM has a booklet on waterbirds enclosed for free.

I want to order this CD-ROM (or order direct at 800-865-2473)
Birder's Diary version 2.5
Thayer Birding Software
$140.00
CD-ROM for Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT. Pentium 120 with 32 Mb RAM recommended.
This electronic checklist is updated annually on the Thayer Birding Software website. It includes 9,948 species. There are checklists for over 225 countries as well as all the US and Canada states and provinces. Users can create custom checklists. There are hundreds of reports and listing features built into the software. A free US mapping CD-ROM is also included. Version 2.5 also includes Dr. Charles Sibley's Birds of the World in electronic format.