Hear the birds sing at the library

The Albert Wisner Public Library has recently added a new feature for the community to enjoy: An interactive Birdsong Sound Board.

This beautiful combination of art and technology was created by local artist James Van Gelder for the library.

Van Gelder painted a woodland scene and a meadow scene with six species in each of local birds. Using Bare Conductive, a graphic sensor kit, the birds come to life singing their songs when touched.

The bird songs were supplied by the Audubon Society.

The birds represented on the board include: Blue Jay, Baltimore Oriole, White-breasted Nuthatch, Common Yellowthroat, Carolina Wren, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, Black-capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Ruby-throated Hummingbird and the American Robin.

Visitors to the library will find the Bird Song Sound Board in the main floor at the rear of the library in the new Warwick’s Backyard Collection. Here nature, gardening and outdoor enthusiasts will find materials and guides on the flora and fauna and geology found in their own backyards, including guides for star gazing.

The collection was inspired by the Bird Nesting Box donations made to the AWPL Foundation by generous residents of our community. The nesting boxes are located throughout Library grounds and many were used this year during nesting season by various local bird species.

A plaque listing the donors can also be found in the Warwick’s Backyard Collection.