DVD Testimonials
I just received the Better Birdwatching in Alberta and British Columbia DVD that I ordered as a Christmas gift for my sister. I couldnšt resist taking a peek. It is great, shešs going to love it! She is forever trying to identify birds in her yard by their voice. Her biggest thrill this year was to have bluebirds nest in her yard. I greatly appreciate the time and effort it must have taken to capture all the birds and their voices on video. Thank you.
Jan
For the first time in her life, my cat Sasha watches a DVD - avidly. What a gorgeous, restful, inspiring work it is. How brilliant of you to produce this DVD without any narration, just letting the birds do the talking. I got it from the library and have run it three times since yesterday. Seems I will have to buy myself a copy. I wonder if I can find something about Gambel quail. A mother quail is out there in a corner of my patio with nine spotted eggs. Anyway - thank you for a really memorable bird watching tool. Regards,
Judy (Tucson, AZ)
Click here to see the Colorado Birds CD reviewed on the birdwatching.com web site.
Click here for an article about the CD that was in the Boulder Daily Camera.
Review from RVing America, March/April 1999
HereÕs What People Are Saying About Better Birdwatching CD-ROMs
The following quotations are from reviews, articles and customer comments.
Ò ... a pioneer in true multimedia presentation of birds ... a birder with binoculars and a field guide might have to spend five or 10 years accumulating the knowledge that someone using the CD could garner in less than a year ... incorporates Robert BaileyÕs concepts of ecoregions, a more powerful tool for finding birds ... correctly assumes that no one travels across the country to look for robins ... people come to the western states to find birds unique to those states ... Taken collectively, the elements of Better Birdwatching in the Mountain West Ecoregion represent a true multimedia package with remarkable potential.Ó- Kevin Cook, Fort Collins, CO
ÒWhat a great idea and effort you have made here ... What a great gift idea this would be.Ó
Ò ... a great reference tool for our staff ... helpful for learning species identification ... IÕve seen slide tray after slide tray on hawks, this was better. I could take the time to look at the features, and it has audio too. You can go at your own pace ... I loved the Sandhill Crane information. The state park-based checklists are also very good. We will be able to use the CD when we get calls from people who are traveling to Colorado. It will be a help in the office.Ó - Susan Kirkpatrick, President, Colorado Audubon Society, from newspaper article in Get Out section of Boulder Daily Camera.
ÒHeard about Better Birdwatching CD-ROMS: Article in Boulder Daily Camera. Spending summer at our cabin in Crystal Lakes near Red Feather Lakes, CO and are enjoying the CD-ROMS, John's birthday gift to Sarah.Ó
ÒIf your gift recipient is a birder who likes to travel, hereÕs an idea: a CD-ROM guide to finding and identifying birds of the Mountain West.Ó
ÒI just bought both 'Better Birdwatching in Colorado, V1&2' and '...,V3,4,5' and think they are wonderful. I recently bought some property in the mountains near Victor and have struggled to identify the birds I am enjoying there. I find the reference material to be too broadly general or geared too much for experts. I'm a novice bird observer and will really appreciate the sounds and videos. Text descriptions of these in bird books are less than helpful to newbies like me. I also like having the residency status and cross references just a click away. Thanks for creating these tools!
Ò I purchased them at the Barr Lake State Park visitor center, which I visited explicitly looking for more detailed local bird information.Ó
ÒI'm enjoying using the CD-ROMS. Found this at REI, and we (my 6 year old and I) love it! Thank you!!Ó
ÒI just want to let you know that I have had your screen saver of the Rocky Mt. birds on for 6 mo. now and when I am outside I hear the birds!!!! What a treat. I have learned to identify most of them. The world is a better place with you in it.Ó
ÒYour Master Bird Checklist is neat. I love it.Ó Diane Porter, birdwatching.com.
"My sons and I have greatly enjoyed the use of your cd- we purchased this
summer at REI, when you were there. It has greatly enhanced our appreciation
of local avian species ... we can find plenty books on the western region,
but none that is so specific and detailed for our area. Thanks again for
the product and for your updates on sightings."- Dave and Grant Getzy, Denver,
CO
What the judges at the Online Communications Competition have to say about Better Birdwatching in Colorado, Volumes 1 & 2. The competition was organized by the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Society for Technical Communication, and the CD received a Merit Award.
Judge #1
* "Individual page presentation is very good. Nice use of scanned/processed
photos, integration of sound/video,
etc. Users/birdwatchers will probably love it."
* "icons/buttons/links that start video/audio clips are well designed and
seem to work well."
* "Nice, short videos show the behavior without a lot of confusing extra
frames."
* "Notes section seems like a good idea."
* "It is an informative system, well-balanced and forward."
* "The Quiz section is nice- people will enjoy that I think."
* "Clearly you have an interesting, useful tool for birdwatchers and people
who want to learn about birds."
* "Fascinating CD title."
Judge #2
* "Liked the maps/locations- consistent organization."
* "Good use of captions for on-screen presentation" (refers to captions with
arrows pointing to important
characteristics in bird photos.)
* "Good job with photos!"
* "Great job on graphics and videos- very appropriate for presentation."
* "Liked the use of photos, videos, and captions. Good way to show look and
behavior."
* "Liked PAV notations" (Picture, Audio, and Video for each species are indicated
in the indexes.)
* "Very professional look and feel."
* "Showed you know your subject matter and were able to present it in a very
effective and usable manner."
* "Design nice."
* "Quiz a good idea."
* The judge replied "yes to all" for the following factors regarding Achievement
of Purpose.
- Stated purpose is met or surpassed.
- Central idea or goal is evident.
- Audience is consistently and appropriately addressed.
- The entry strikes you as appealing, interesting, and useful
to the intended user.
* "Overall, very engaging and effective."
* "Cannot take it with you in the field unless you have a laptop (that is
OK, but you would want to!)"
Judge #3
* "All graphics and videos look very professional."
* "This product is a good idea and very useful."
* "I think this is an 'encyclopedia' for Colorado birds."