Phenomenology

Isn't that what our instruments are for? To translate perceptions of other senses into perceptions of our own five senses?

Does it matter? We detect magnetic fields via visual observation of a compass; the bird detects it via feelings in its brain. Aren't we detecting the very same thing? Are you familiar with a condition known as synesthesia?

It's a mental condition characterized by an inability to properly distinguish sensory input "channels." Sufferers of synesthesia - normally a congenital condition, but known to be temporarily induced by certain psychoactive drugs - hear shapes, smell colors, see music, etc. Interestingly there appears to be some consistency between synesthetes in regards to what sounds each color has or other associations.