In these days of increasing concern for the state of the environment and declining biodiversity, it is important that students and teachers come to appreciate the value of life in all its forms. Natural history provides students with an opportunity to understand better how life on the planet interacts, as well as the place and responsibility of human beings in ecosystems. Bird study is one aspect of that larger endeavor, as the role of birds in the environment include the control of rodent populations; dispersal of pollens, seeds, and fruits; pests on farms and in cities; hosts to parasites and diseases; and as beautiful animals that aesthetically enhance peoples lives. This article describes several methods that can enhance the study of birds, including traditional field trips and the newer technology of PCs, CDs and PDAs. The author describes an electronic field guide of birds ("Dawn Chorus I"), which provides a multimedia approach to learning bird identification. By combining the use of compact discs, personal computing, and handheld devices (PDAs), instructors and students can carry picture and sound recordings of the birds they may encounter in the field. Simple individual and class exercises that incorporate the software further solidify bird identification back in the lab.