Written by Tom Brown and reprinted by permission of the Tucson Audubon Society
On September 21st, six weeks after turning on our new HaikuBox listening device at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds, we recorded our 100th bird species. That lucky bird, one of our newest fall migrants, was a Townsend’s Warbler! Our total now stands at 104.
Many of you who are now following along on the HaikuBox App, are asking about the accuracy of these identified voice recordings. The Haikubox uses a database of recordings to compare to the actual sounds it records—there is always a chance for error. The larger that “library” of confirmed recordings is, the higher your percentages for a correct identification. Now, without a doubt, there are at least one or two of these identifications that I consider suspect. Our list shows Osprey has been recorded 49 times—with our proximity to Patagonia Lake, one or two fly-overs are not out of the question, but 49? 
After listening to the call many times, it finally dawned on me that it was the alarm call from one of our numerous Arizona Gray Squirrels!
Please stop by for a visit if you are interested in the HaikuBox and how it is being used here at the Paton Center for Hummingbirds. Check it out now at Sounds from the Paton Center