There’s something primal about waking up to the sounds of nature. Somewhere deep inside the human brain some nexis of ganglia relate somehow to the eternal chorus of chirps, tweets and caws.
Sure beats drive-time radio.
Members of The Studio, a work group associated with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, uploaded bird-call recordings to a smartphone app that plugs them into the phone’s time alarm programming. Instead of being jolted awake by an abrupt buzz, your dream might be subtly invaded by the sweet whistle of a black-capped chickadee before you gradually awaken to the music of a choir of digital birds. The app, Dawn Chorus, includes actual recordings of 20 birds native to Western Pennsylvania acquired in part from Cornell University, one of the world’s leading centers of avian understanding. A “binocular” feature enables users to focus in on information about the “birds” that woke them.
Launched last week, the free app is available through Google Play and Apple stores.
Since 2015, The Studio has created interactive experiences presented by The Andy Warhol Museum and Carnegie Museum of Art. It’s part of a global movement to digitize elements of museums and other institutions and make them available on popular handheld devices. Unlike a digital museum visit, the bird alarm is intended to be used every day, bringing the wildlife sounds of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History into the pockets of smartphone users.
“This project is our first foray into exploring the potential for museums to embed themselves within our daily lives in utilitarian, helpful ways,” states a page from The Studio’s website. “... We are hoping to reach our local audience with something entirely relevant to them. If you live in Pittsburgh, or close by, then this app was made especially for you.”
The creators of Dawn Chorus hope the app will encourage users to learn more about Powdermill Nature Reserve, the Carnegie’s environmental research center in Rector, Westmoreland County, and BirdSafe Pittsburgh, which works to reduce urban bird mortality. The Studio is considering other ways to put the Carnegie Museums in your pocket, including a local frog-sound timer app and museum-related texting and camera tools.
Learn more about The Studio at https://studio.carnegiemuseums.org.
John Hayes: 412-263-1991, jhayes@post-gazette.com.
First Published: March 11, 2017, 5:00 a.m.
