A reported 9000 Americans are turning 60 each and every day. Add to that the 4-6 million combat veterans from a variety of wars fought over the past 5-6 decades and it translates into a few age and noise-related hearing disabilities. More people than ever before are suffering from some form of hearing loss. Along with the day-to-day challenges, are recreational limitations particularly given rapid growth in birding across the country. The high frequency songs produced by many birds cannot be heard by those who face auditory limitations.
Recently, Discovery Center and Bird Club member Duanne Swift, a Viet Nam veteran with a 70% high frequency hearing loss, participated in the Master Naturalist program. The program requires completion of a “Capstone” project whereby participants select a longer term project that will benefit the environmental education needs of the communities they live in. Swift selected a project he called “Hear ‘em Sing” whereby he would raise enough money for the North Lakeland Discovery Center to purchase Song Finder units to be available to loan to birders with high frequency hearing loss.
This electronic high frequency sound reduction unit is the brainchild of Lang Elliot of Cornell NY, an active birder who lost his ability to hear many birds as a child. Song Finder, fits on your shirt pocket and includes a headset. The unit divides high frequency bird songs (above 4000 Hz) into notes that most people with hearing in the 2000 Hz range can hear easily.
The Northwoods is a hotspot for many wood warblers, as well as other species, and when the leaves appear each spring birders rely heavily on being able to identify the songs of birds in order to determine their presence in the area. Swift hopes to raise enough money to purchase several Song Finder (www.hearbirdsagain.com) this fall. The units will then be available for loan at the Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters. Those wishing to contribute should send checks to North Lakeland Discovery Center, PO Box 237, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545 Attention: Hear ‘em Sing project.
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