What is ParaChirp?

• ParaChirp is an acoustic reflector for use with a smartphone or other recording device.

• The anticipated users are citizen scientists gaining greater interaction with and understanding of birds.

• PC is tested and proven in the most arduous of environments of Africa and proves top be suitably robust and effective.

• Key to its success is its DIY nature which can be assembled and maintained very easily. 

• Laser cut from sheet material ParaChirp is customisable for a variety of specialist applications

• PC is deliberately inexpensive so as to be accessible globally. In order to reach the farthest destinations of wild birds we need to equip the most local people with the best affordable technology.

• 50% of people in Rwanda own a smart phone.

• PC makes high quality recordings suitable for export to databases such as EBird.  PC has already contributed to achieveing awards for wildlife tour-guides in Africa.

• ParaChirp enhances the audio of your device for use with apps such as Merlin, making your bird identification ever more accurate.

• WAV files can be generated for the highest quality recordings that you intend to share with Ebird.

• ParaChirp is deliberately low tech making it less susceptible to theft or confiscation during travel.

• ParaChirp can be disassembled into smaller parts that distribute around your luggage thus increasing space for other things.

• The pricing of ParaChirp is set to sponsor globel ownership.

• It is anticipated that a Parachirp might be an ideal gift for a birder who would keep a PC in the garden shed or in the car to be ready for that serendipitous encounter with wildlife. 

• PC represents a lower risk security hazard from theft of that of a high end recording device.

• A well prepared PC can spring into action with a smart phone in a matter of seconds!

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ParaChirp P29 'ParaGo'

As its name suggests ParaGo is the latest in 29 development models. P29 is a folding version of P28 Turaco - the version used by Planet Birdsong in Rwanda. ParaGo gives you the option of fixed, folding or removable petals.

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Disclaimer

ParaChirp is not designed or intended for surveillance

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Education

ParaChirp is an ideal way of engaging youngsters with birdsong.

Sets of ParaChirps can be purchased at a discount

PCs can be customised by painting which is one way of exploring not just camouflage but behaviours that disturb birdlife and ways in which we can behave to see more birdlife by better understanding birds.

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CREST awards are available for use with ParaChirp:

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• KS2

• Parabolas are common place in technology

• Discover the principles behind a device that gathers sounds from a single source and isolates unwanted sounds

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• KS2/3 Camouflage makes things merge with their backgrounds.

• Design camou schemes for Parachirp in a range of environments from urban to arctic

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• KS3

• As birds migrate they develop local 'accents'.

• Search a birdsong database and use software to view the wave form. Compare wave forms of birds from different regions and idenitify regional accents. You may be able to work in collaboration with people living in other migratory destinations.

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• KS3/4

• Create a tupeface or font for the name of a bird based on its wave form as seen using software like Raven, Audacity or OcenAudio

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• KS4

• Record birdsong and use this for creative outcomes.

• Design a chair or a desk lamp using the forms seen on graphic representations of birdsong​

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• KS5

• Some Birds have never been recorded in  the wild

• Explore ways of sharing recordings so as to identify a single individual​​​​​​

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