Friday, February 23, 2007

For decades, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has shared the remarkable sounds of birds and other animals with the public through audio guides featuring recordings hand-picked from the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds' vast collection. Now anyone can explore the archive's holdings on his or her own. For the first time, more than 65,000 sound clips and some 18,000 video clips of birds and other animals are accessible for no charge at the Macaulay Library's Web site.

"We've long dreamed of swinging the doors to the archive open. Technology and dedicated work by our staff are, at last, making this a realization," said Greg Budney, acting director of the Macaulay Library. "That's important to our core mission in education and scientific research."

Although the online material currently has a North American emphasis, it includes a generous sampling from around the world. Visitors to the Web site can listen to the "Best of Collection," such as a western diamondback rattlesnake responding to a potential threat or a satin bowerbird courting mates. They can also search the collection for any animal, whether it is a backyard bird, a killer whale from Antarctica or an insect from Malaysia. Video footage is available for some species.