Kalahari Soundscape 2023
I created this soundscape December 11-13, 2023 in the Kalahari, South Africa. Based on field recordings I made in the Kalahari from November 5 - December 13, 2023, the soundscape reflects the flow of  a Kalahari day, beginning as early as 3:00 when the Fork-tailed Drongo begins, tracking various other birds and animals as they begin to wake and sing, ending at night with the magical barking geckos.  This was an exceptionally hot and dry time even for the Kalahari, with almost no rain during South Africa’s spring season.  Daytime temperatures were well over 100 (Farhenheit).  How the inhabitants of this desert land respond to this extreme heat and draught is a story of coping, carnage, and sheer courage.  Not all animals survive, and those that do are forced to alter many of their life patterns for survival. However, the sounds of those who survive create a stunning symphony, at times stark and harsh, at other times melodic, mellow and hypnotic. Counterpoint was surely invented by barking geckos which proliferate throughout Kalahari!  Sounds overlap but contents of this soundscape are listed here:

0:00 Fork-tailed Drongo
0:06 Cape Turtle-dove chorus
0:13  Hoopoe
0:22 Kalahari Scrub-robin
0:32  Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler
0:54  Bulbul (who joins Tit-babbler for call and response)
1:10 Cape Turtle-dove (solo)
1:30 White-browed Sparrow-weaver
1:40 Sandgrouse - calls and flight sounds
1:43 Kalahari Scrub-robin
1:51  Northern Black Korhaan
1:57 Crimson-breasted Shike (single-pitched, perching calls)
2:02 Cape Crow
2:12  Black-backed Jackal
2:15  Barking Geckos
2:19  Lion
2:44 & 2:51 Spotted Eagle-owl
Outro: Barking Geckos

Kalahari Soundscape 2023

This recording was made on the shore of Roe Lake on Pender Island part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC. August 3, 2023, 02:30pm. This location has a lot of plane traffic but you can hear the small birds and occasional frog. The recording used a Rode NTSF Ambisonic mic, with a Mixpre 6 field recorder. The file was exported to binaural

Roe - Lake - Pender Aug - 3-2023 - 1430

This recording was made on Roe Islet off Pender Island part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC. August 3, 2023, 02:00pm. LIsten to the sounds of gentle waves against the rocks. The recording used a hydrophone, with a Mixpre 6 field recorder.

Roe - Islet - Pender Hydrophone Aug2 - 2023 - 1400

This recording was made in Prior Centennial Park on Pender Island part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC. August 3, 2023, 06:30am. Listen to the sounds of insects and birds as part of this dawn chorus. The recording used a Rode NTSF Ambisonic mic, with a Mixpre 6 field recorder. The file was exported to binaural

Prior - Centennial - Pender Aug3 - 2023 - 0630-

This recording was made on Mount Norman on Pender Island part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC. August 2, 2023, 10:00am. Listen to Marbled Murrelets (?) calling over the sound of boats in the distance. The recording used a Rode NTSF Ambisonic mic, with a Mixpre 6 field recorder. The file was exported to binaural

Mt - Norman - Pender Aug - 2-2023 - 1000

This recording was made in Beaumont Park on Pender Island part of the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve, BC. August 3, 2023, 09:20am. Listen to a raven couple call to each other alongside nuthatches and brown creepers. The raven fly by and you can hear their wing beats. The recording used a Rode NTSF1 Ambisonic mic, with a Mixpre 6 field recorder. The file was exported to binaural

Beaumont - Pender Aug3 - 2023 - 0920

The Bittern begins its watery sounds, followed by approaching-then-departing Canada Geese.  Pied-billed Grebe begins its call at 0:44, with whooping sounds throughout the track.  Recorded at the wetland of Nature Conservancy Canada on Pelee Island, by Carol Ann Weaver, May 12, 2024.  Photo of Pied-billed Grebe and wetlands by CAW & Lyle Friesen.

Bittern, Canada Geese, Pied-billed Grebe,Pelee,May12'24

This Warbling Vireo was recorded at Fish Point Provincial Park, in the swamp region, Pelee Island, May 6, 5:09-5:12pm by Carol Ann Weaver.  A few yards away is a vibrantly turbulent Lake Erie, with waves crashing to shore. Photo of Warbling Vireo by Lyle Friesen.

Warbling Vireo, Pelee Island,Fish Point,May6, 2024

The Blackpole has an extremely high call at 0:08, 0:38, 0:56 & 1:12. Starting with Least Flycatcher, then Tennessee Warbler at 0:03, Redwing Blackbirds also make background sounds. Highly prominent are turbulent waves of close-by Lake Erie. Recorded at Fish Point on Pelee Island, Ontario, May 12, 2024 by Carol Ann Weaver, photo by Lyle Friesen.

Blackpole, Pelee Island, Fish Point, May12'24

This Yellow Warbler, at Fish Point, on Pelee Island, sings melodically throughout, to the accompaniment of a stormy Lake Erie, recorded May 6, 2024 by Carol Ann Weaver; Photo by Lyle Friesen.

Yellow Warbler, Pelee Island, Fish Point Swamp,May6'24

The Carolina Wren's distinctive, bright calls are heard at Fish Point Provincial Park, Pelee Island, Ontario, to the backdrop of a very close-by and turbulent Lake Erie with high waves. Recorded by Carol Ann Weaver, May 9, 2024. Photo by Lyle Friesen.

Kalahari Soundscape 2023

caweaver

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