[Ben88]

Can Remembird be used in the field for playback, and is the quality of the recordings good enough for that purpose if the bird is reasonably close/loud?

I'd like to have at least a limited ability to record and playback sounds when I go to Sulawesi in a couple weeks (there's a couple Rails whose calls are unknown), but I've just made a couple big purchases (new camera) and I don't feel like making another one for a while. Any other recommendations for reasonably priced equipment?

[njlarsen]

I have used the Remembird II for just that purpose. On a recent trip, I heard a sound that I was fairly certain was from a Yucatan Wren, played it back using the built in speaker, and the bird popped out into view. It is possible to use a small battery-powered speaker to allow playback that is much louder, but for a close bird that will probably be counter-productive, you don't want it to be scared away.

The recording I made is on our opus page for the Wren: http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Yucatan_Wren

The biggest problem with using the system is the sensitivity to wind hitting the microphone. External microphones can be purchased that are directional and has a wind baffle, but I have not bothered, one more thing to carry around.

You can also purchase a sound library with the RB2, mine came with Venezuelan sounds preloaded. Additionally, you can make your own set of sounds from downloads from e.g., Xeno-Canto

Niels

[Murray Lord]

I agree it is possible to use Remembird for that purpose. One shortcoming though is that (assuming you aren't downloading your calls to a laptop as you travel) the lack of a screen makes it hard to find a recording from earlier in your trip quickly. So if you are recording a bird and playing back immediately that's not too hard; if you want to go back and try playing a call you got three days ago it can be fiddly.