PETERSON MULTIMEDIA GUIDES: North American Birds (1995). Interactive CD-ROM

PETERSON MULTIMEDIA GUIDES: North American Birds (1995)

with Rory Peterson



CD-ROM

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Interactive (HMI) (now Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH))

ISBN-10: 0395848431; ISBN-13: 978-0395848432

"Version 1.2W"



Seems to be out of print. THe HMH website does not have info on it.



Just to set everyone's expectations accurately - this is software made in *1995*.

Remember Windows 3.1? "Total Eclipse Of The Heart" was new on the radio.

(Then again, so was "Hey Man, Nice Shot" - Filter).



But it does have nice videos, tons of pictures, bird songs, info, etc.

Looks better on lower resolution screen (again, think 1995).

The online support is long gone I think (ahh, Netscape).

The intro video by Rory Peterson is _classic_.



This CD-ROM caught my eye at the library, looking for "More Birding by Ear."

Figured I wouldn't make an ISO - installs fine from the raw files.

The CD packet is so dated, I had to scan it.

The "Peterson iPhone Guide to Backyard Birds" it's not. But hey...



Cheers, FerraBit

May 2009



Originally posted: Mini, Demonoid, TPB

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Some fun things from the program notes:



The Peterson Online web site (http://www.petersononline.com) is optimized for Netscape 2.0 (and later) and Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 (and later).



- Care of Compact Discs

Contrary to early reports, compact discs are very easily damaged and

if treated carelessly, may eventually become unreadable. With CD-

ROM drives becoming ever faster and more disc sensitive, this is

becoming an increasing problem.

[I loved those early reports! Oh, by the way, a 2x speed CD drive is required, but quad-speed drive recommended!]

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The world’s most definitive bird guide is now available on CD-ROM! You will fully explore the life histories of 672 North America birds and 277 less common species with the full text and art work of the Peterson’s Guide to Birds, Eastern and Western presented in an accessible and highly interactive format. You actively engage this multimedia resource by:



- Investigating over 700 photographs of birds in their habitats

- Examining Roger Tory Peterson’s precision art work

- Hearing over 700 bird songs and calls

- Viewing short videos including an interactive birding tutorial for beginners.

- Listening to 150 audio commentaries by Peterson on specific bird species.

- Using an authoritative Glossary to understand terminology



The Bird Finder Search Tool, based on Roger Tory Peterson’s widely adopted classification system, lets you identify birds using eleven different reference points, such as field markings, voice, or habitat. You can use the Visual Category Guide to research more familiar birds. The challenging Skills Builder contains two competitive bird identification games that will help you recall classification criteria in the field. You can also keep a catalog of the birds you have sighted.



System Requirements [get ready...]

Windows Platform 486/33 MHz (Pentium recommended)

Win 3.X/Win 95 [works fine on XP]

16MB RAM



HMI's first multimedia release of Peterson's work, Peterson Multimedia Guides: North American Birds, contains the detailed artwork, authoritative text and precision range maps from the best-selling Peterson Field Guide to Birds. The largest database of its kind, the CD-ROM features full-life histories for the 672 regularly-seen species, plus additional treatment of 277 accidental and rare North American species.

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From Scientific American

Nature lovers young and old have been relying on Roger Tory Peterson's field guides for more than 60 years. This interactive version has special treats. Each of the 672 graphically elegant entries in the Bird Finder section has Peterson's beautiful illustrations, a brief description of the bird with its Latin name, a map showing its range and clickable buttons to learn more about its habitat, feeding, nesting, field marks and conservation status and to hear its song. Two skill-builder games, a Lifelist to track your bird sightings, a glossary and links to Peterson Online (www.petersononline.com) make this a rich and fun learning tool.