[obol] Capturing sound

[Clint Brumitt]

Obolers:

Capturing sound and bringing back what has been lost is a strong desire for all who love the outdoors.  Birder's are probably at the top of the list for those who depend on sound
to either use or enjoy their activity.  I have never seen a YELLOW RAIL,  but I have heard them on multiple occasions.  I have also failed to hear them at a time when the group around
me were all giving high fives.

I wear hearing aids.  As I was being fitted, the practioner asked if I wanted global or directional aids.  I said I enjoyed watching birds and I think it would be important to hear
all around me so I would not miss birds from the rear.  I settled for global aids.  With that said, the following have been experiences that I have had birding with hearing aids and associted hearing devices.

1.    Global aids allow you to hear birds all around you.  They also allow you to hear the freeway, highways, horns, honks and loud talking of people if they are close to you.  Those sounds all over power 
the sound of the bird in bush or in the top of the tree.

2.    Be sure to carry spare batteries.  They only fail when you most need them.

3.    Friends who have newer models of hearing aids, have additional controls to block out background sound, but they still experience the loss of sound of small birds.

I have purchased at Radio Shack an amplifier that has some benefits.  I believe the amp and head phones cost a total of $45.  It allows me to control the sound of the TV at home and has some benefits
for use in the outdoors.  While there are similar difficulties with sound you can more easily turn them on and off.  It can be more directional and site specific.
 
4.    You have to realize that all devices have issues with rain and heavy fog.  You have to deal with binoculars, straps, clothing and the head phones wires and straps of the hearing device.  

If you suffer from the loss of hearing the best advice I have found is to bird with a female who has great hearing.  Why a female?   They traditionally maintain their hearing longer in life than the male.

If you are in mode of purchasing hearing devices, talk to as many people as possible who have aids to understand their experences prior to spending big bucks.

Clint Brumitt




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