Dear birdJammers...

Welcome to the latest edition of the sporadic birdJam Online Newsletter! By the way, past editions are full of tips and information.

New birdJam HeadsUp Warblers App!

birdJam HeadsUp Warblers, our handy new app for iPod Touch and iPhone provides exactly what you need to quickly identify warblers in the field:

What does the bird look like?
What does the bird sound like?
Should it be here at this time of year?

The key elements are cleverly organized to allow fast comparison of 57 North American species by sight, sound or range map. You quickly select species by looking at photographs arranged by similarity.

Or select birds by tapping a sound characteristic such as “buzzy” or “ascending.” Then, narrow your selection by comparing range maps and sound snippets. Once you’ve selected the species you want to compare, drill down to details about each bird.

You’ll especially like the thoughtful organization of multiple song/sound/chip tracks for each species, with up to 3 minutes of sounds for a species. You know they’re good because they’re from the famed Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

See our birdJam HeadsUp Warblers description, then head over to iTunes to purchase and download HeadsUp Warblers for just $7.99. It is time to start getting ready for Spring Migration 2011!

New Stokes Field Guide

Don and Lillian Stokes have published a new North American Field Guide with more than 3,400 photos. It is a great study companion to your birdJam iPod because the photos include males, females, summer, winter, immature, morphs, important subspecies, and birds in flight. Glossy and high quality, this comprehensive reference book will help to thoroughly prepare you for the field.

Gifting iTunes Apps

Need a holiday gift for the birder in your life? Apple has made it really easy to “gift” an app, music, movies, etc. First, you need an iTunes account. Then, just go to the iTunes Store, search (upper right corner) for the content that you want (such as birdJam Twitch), and then click on the down arrow next to “Buy.” The first selection is “Gift This App”, and all you’ll need is the email address for whomever you’re gifting the app (or music, movie, etc.). How easy is that?

birdJam Maker Replacement Downloads

If your computer crashes or you want to update your birdJam Maker installation to the latest version, remember that you can always go to our web site and download the latest version. You’ll need your email address and birdJam Maker serial number.

New Version of Free birdJam App Now Available

birdJam: The App Version 1.0.5 is now available as a free download from the iTunes App Store. This version is required if you have updated your iPod/iPhone software to iOS 4.2. There is a critical bug in iOS 4.2 that causes birdJam: The App not to recognize the bird songs.

If you have an iPod Touch or an iPhone, you can download and install the FREE birdJam App. The birdJam App is a companion to birdJam Maker and adds range maps (from Cornell Lab of Ornithology), an easy-to-use new interface, and learning tools such as a quiz to build and test your skills. See the birdJam May 2010 newsletter for more information. Or see birdJam: The App in iTunes.

Using “The App”

We’ve developed some “short and sweet” birdJam iPod Touch/iPhone Basic Operating Instructions for the birdJam App. Versions: Word Doc or PDF. Open and print these instructions and work through them (just one time, please!) so you will be quickly using all the new, cool range maps, functions, etc.

Keeping Up With iPods and Speakers

This year, birdJam focused on the iPod Touch as the best iPod model for birding. And, as it does every year, Apple changed its iPod models in September, including the Touch, adding lots of new features and great new functionality.

As these year-to-year changes have been made, we have had to change the speakers that we carry so they are physically and electronically compatible with the current iPod models.

In the past this could make a speaker obsolete immediately, but the folks at iMainGo have figured out an iMainGo portable speaker system that isn't as dependent upon changes in the size/shape of new iPods. Whew!

ABA Appoints New President

aba_ad If you haven’t already heard, Jeff Gordon has been appointed the new president of the American Birding Association (ABA).

birdJam has advertised in the ABA Birding magazine since we started back in 2005; our latest ad is shown here.

Jeff is a well-known and respected writer, speaker, tour leader and multi-media producer. In fact, Jeff wrote one of the first birdJam (then, birdPod) reviews for Bird Watcher’s Digest back in early 1996. We think the ABA made a good choice, and we encourage you to support Jeff and the ABA.

birdGems Make Great Gifts

If you’re trying to find a special gift for the birder in your life, you might want to consider a unique birdGem necklace or earrings. These individually handcrafted pieces are beautiful representations of nature, including a monarch butterfly chrysalis, cherry tree (shown), American Robin’s nest, and nautilus spiral earrings and necklace in birdJam blue. birdGems are packaged in “gift-ready” boxes and tucked into lovely organza gift bags.

birdJam Support

We provide you many ways to get answers to your questions, including checking our Support Site, Email or by Phone
1-800-403-5524. You can also read through past editions of the birdJam Newsletter for lots of tips and tricks to using your birdJam iPod

With our best wishes,

Denese, Jay and Charlie