Hobbies And Interests
Bird Whistle
The traditional bird call gift is the bird whistle. A lot of these come in hand-crafted wood and can be quite tasteful while doing the required job. They tend to be specialized toward more common birds, such as blackbirds, ducks and owls, but for the amateur ornithologist, they are a must-have.
Twisting Bird Call
Another type of bird call is operated by twisting the brass handle of a small wooden tube. The brass is coated in rosin, which creates a high-pitched chirping sound as it rubs against the wooden casing. This makes it more hygienic than the traditional bird call whistle and it doesn't require batteries, like more expensive gadgets.
Guide and CD
Bird calls and whistles are perfect if you want to attract a certain type of bird, but for the more enthusiastic bird watcher, a Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs might be the perfect gift. These books specialize in different bird calls with an accompanying CD so that the user can learn them by heart. With different editions published by region, you can tailor the gift to the ornithologist's home or an upcoming holiday.
Mp3 Player and Speakers
An mp3 player may seem a strange gift, but modern technology has removed the need to artificially recreate bird sounds. Thanks to resources such as Cornell University's Macaulay Library, you can buy a vast selection of different bird calls and download them to your mp3 player or iPod. While this can be an expensive resource, there are also plenty of free download sites out there, though their selection may be limited. The keen bird watcher can then plug the mp3 player into portable speakers and let technology do the hard work, allowing more time to enjoy the birds in their natural environment.