The Masters broadcast always features the beautiful sound of singing and chirping birds. But fans want to know if those sounds are real or fake.
Everyone tuning into The Masters is accustomed to hearing the sounds of the crowd, Jim Nantz and all the familiar noises. One of those, of course, is the birds chirping and singing in the background throughout the day.
Some people might be listening to those sounds and thinking, wow, they must really hunt out bird nests and put microphones right next to them.
However, more inquisitive minds have a more pertinent question for Augusta National Golf Club and, in turn, ESPN and CBS on the broadcast: Are The Masters bird sounds real?
Fitzpatrick states that he doesn’t believe there will be any geographic manipulation at this year’s Masters. “It sounds like a cardinal and possibly an Eastern towhee,” he remarked. “To the species, they are all true to those that are calling central Georgia at this time of year.” Fitzpatrick parked his car, took out his laptop, opened the spreadsheet, and read aloud to me from the list of birds he had tracked in earlier Masters sessions.
This is not a new conspiracy theory. In 2001, the network copped to using recorded bird sounds at the 2000 PGA Championship while insisting that the birds heard at the Masters are live and indigenous to Augusta. But, given the relentless cacophony at this years tournament, could it be possible that something foul is afoot?
Fitzpatrick admitted to me, “I will admit that I keep a list of the birds that I see and hear when I watch golf on TV.” He claimed that when he was watching a golf tournament years ago, he heard some strange noises. I heard birds that aren’t common in Kentucky during the summer, like the white-throated sparrow, during the broadcast, which I believe originated from Kentucky [note: this was probably the 2000 PGA Championship, which I mentioned earlier]. Thats when I had my first a-ha! moment. Theres some cheating going on here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement.
Although the species on this year’s broadcast are accurate, he is not sure if every single chirp is being broadcast live. “Some of these birds have quite variable songs, but it sounds like I hear the same actual song,” he says to me. “I have no doubt that at some point, they must record some excellent birds, then occasionally sneak back in and play them again to add some color. .
Watching the Masters on TV is like traveling back in time to the opulent, natural Augusta National Golf Club. The lush course appears in high definition, and Jim Nantz’s smooth vocals envelop you like a warm, cashmere quarter-zip. The sounds of birdsong from their perches just past the fairways enhance the scene. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that Augusta National seems to have a lot of birdspossibly an alarming number. Could it be that CBS is piping in chirps?.
Thats not to say that all of them are. On a stunning property covered in trees, there’s a good chance we’ll hear actual bird sounds during the round. In light of how frequently viewers hear the bird sounds at The Masters, it’s difficult to believe that they consistently obtain them.
Everybody who watches The Masters is used to hearing Jim Nantz, the crowd, and all the other familiar sounds. Of course, one of those is the birds’ constant background singing and chirping.
A more pertinent query for Augusta National Golf Club, ESPN, and CBS regarding the broadcast, though, comes from more perceptive minds: Are the bird sounds from The Masters real?
Hearing those noises, some people might be thinking, “Wow, they really have to look for bird nests and place microphones next to them.”
A constant feature of the Masters broadcast is the lovely sound of birds chirping and singing. But fans are curious as to whether those noises are genuine or not.