It's definitely helpful in ID-ing LBJs - pointing out the key features you need to look out for to differentiate between similar looking species - but the systematic way one have to go about it - basically keying out the ID by following steps feels unnatural to me.
(Okay that's also how one goes about ID-ing trees with a good tree guide, but the difference is, the tree don't fly away while you're reading through the text of the key ...
. I'm mentioning this only because if you want to take a second or third or fourth look at the bird because the key requires it for the ID - sometimes the bird isn't there anymore to have a look at - so it's essential to have a very good look at the first observation already, don't grab the book and try to make the ID as you go along. Or take a
and ID the bird later. It's also helpful to learn the key characteristics of the major groups of LBJs (the first section of the "key") off by heart.)
I haven't listened to the CD with bird sounds yet - I don't usually have a CD player with me when I'm walking around birding. Thinking of trying to rip the sounds off the CD and storing them with appropriate numbers on my cell phone - so that I can directly access the sound when I need it for an ID...
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