How Our Assets Can Be Used: Research

The Macaulay Library offers a unique resource for scientists from many disciplines. Our sounds have played a key role in creation of the taxonomic trees for all bird species. In some cases we have the only known recordings of birds that are thought to be extinct. We are making a concerted effort to collect sounds and video from endangered species before it is too late. In addition to research on birds, our sounds have been used to study how the human brain responds to natural stimulus, and as a vast set of exemplars for engineers trying to create machines that discriminate among sounds. Our goal is to expand our relationships with all kinds of researchers and make our collection widely available.

Case Studies

Anthropologist Studying Nahuatl
Sounds from the Macaulay Library help researcher Jonathan D. Amith elicit Nahuatl names and information about bird species from native peoples. Amith is creating the Nahuatl Learning Environment, an online encyclopedia of language, flora and fauna and many more aspects of Nahuatl culture.

Recordings Attract Bermuda Petrels
To help draw displaced or prospecting pairs of cahow (Pterodroma cahow) to new nesting burrows on higher and safer ground, the restoration team needed recordings of vocalizations that could be broadcast to attract courting birds. This tactic has been successful with other colonial nesting species.

Resources

Order a Recording

Search the Catalog

Collection Highlights

Most Wanted Recordings

Audio Equipment

History of Macaulay Library