Quiet Places in Anatolia

Zeleia - Improv-1

Zeleia - ło:q’

Zeleia - Mud (Live)

Zeleia - Replace The Memory

The sound of the Song Thrush that I recorded in Kazdağları (Mount Ida, Turkey), which I visit every spring, just before sunset.
Kazdağları is the forest where I was born, raised, and always listened to attentively. In this recording, I am approximately 3 meters away from the Song Thrush and I feel very lucky that I was able to capture its entire performance without frightening it.
There was a distant, tranquil sound of a stream in the background. The species of birds heard in the distance are: Brown Thrasher, Northern Cardinal, Eurasian Blackbird.

May 2022

Song Thrush, Distant Stream, Kazdağları

25 May, 2024, Summit of Kazdağları, 1770 meters. 

On a windy day when the clouds embraced me, recording this sound at the summit of Kazdağları is personally very significant to me. It is a mountain that offers me different gifts each time I visit. A mountain that allows me to pause and reflect on my existence, one that matures me. 

I think it's a mountain I will never tire of visiting for the rest of my life.

Birds: Black Redstart

Heavy Mountain Wind, Summit Of Kazdağları, 1770m

It was recorded in the depths of Kazdağları at evening in May 2024.

Golden Jackal Howling, Evening, Kazdağları

One late afternoon in late May, I sat under an olive tree in the olive grove and made this recording. Listening to the wind rustling the olive leaves and branches reminded me of how much I love and respect this tree. Some call it the Tree of Immortality, others call it the Tree of Peace, some even call it the tree that illuminates the darkness. How impressive it is for a tree to inspire, bring peace, heal, and illuminate.

May 2023

Olive Grove In The Wind, Evening, Kazdağları Foothills

English below

Kastamonu, Küre Dağları ormanlarında oldukça nadir denk gelecek iki farklı göçün kesişimin ses manzarasına şahit olduğum için kendimi şanslı ve bir o kadar da kaygılı hissediyorum. 

Kayıtta duyduğumuz kuş Turna. 
Ana göç yolu hattı olan Orta Karadeniz'den güneye ve kuzeye doğru gerçekleşir. Şu an sonbahar göç günlerinde güneye doğru göç ederler. Orta Karadeniz ile Adana-Osmaniye arasını sık kullanırlar. Genelde gruplar halinde göç eden turnalar yüksek sesleri ile iletişim kurarlar ve bu onları bir arada tutar. 

Yavaş yavaş fade-in bir şekilde turnaların geçişini duymaya başlıyoruz, ona aynı anda benzer bir şekilde uçak sesi de eşlik etmeye başlıyor. Uçağın da turnaların da peak yaptığı nokta aynı oluyor. Sonra turnalar da uçak da fade out olup yavaş yavaş kayboluyorlar. Biyolog ve ornitolog arkadaşım bu denk gelişte oluşan turna seslerinin uçakların sesini tehdit olarak algılamasından kaynaklanabileceğini söyledi. 

Bu bir tehdit olsun ya da olmasın, antrofonik yüksek bir ses göçmen kuşların göç davranışlarını ne kadar etkiler? İki farklı göçün kesişimi olarak yorumladığım bu kayıt aynı zamanda beni insandan öte düşünmeye de iten bir pratik. En basidinden göçmen kuşlar kıtalar arası toplayıcı ve taşıyıcılardır. Bu döngü biyolojik çeşitlilik için oldukça önemlidir. Bu "kargo" görevine müdahalenin etkileri bu zinciri koparır. Ekosistem üzerindeki bu akustik etkinin merkezinde olmaktan çıktığımızda ve bunu paylaştığımızda oluşacak diğer etkileri yeniden değerlendirmemiz gerektiğini düşünüyorum. 

Not: Kayıt gece yarısında kaydedilmiştir. İkinci dakikada kulaklıkla dikkatli dinlediğinizde kanat seslerini de duyabiliyorsunuz. Derin bir orman olduğu için turna sesi birden fazla kez yankılara sebep oluyor.

Fotoğraf: Enis Çakar

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I feel both fortunate and somewhat anxious witnessing the soundscape created by the rare intersection of two different migrations in the forests of Kastamonu's Küre Mountains.

The bird we hear in the recording is the crane. Their main migration route stretches from the Central Black Sea towards both the south and north. Currently, during the autumn migration period, they are moving southwards, frequently using the Central Black Sea to the Adana-Osmaniye region. Cranes, which typically migrate in groups, rely on their loud calls to communicate and stay together.

We gradually begin to hear the cranes fading in, and simultaneously, a similar airplane sound joins in. The peak of the cranes and the airplane coincide. Then, both the cranes and the plane fade out and slowly disappear. A biologist and ornithologist friend mentioned that this alignment might result from cranes perceiving the airplane sounds as a threat.

Whether or not it is a threat, how much does a high anthropogenic sound impact migratory birds' behavior? This recording, which I interpret as the intersection of two different migrations, also encourages me to think more-than-human perspective. At the most basic level, migratory birds act as transcontinental gatherers and carriers, which is vital for biodiversity. The consequences of disrupting this 'cargo' function break the chain. When we step away from the center of this acoustic impact on the ecosystem and share it, I believe we need to re-evaluate other potential effects.

Note: Was recorded at midnight. When listening carefully with headphones around the second minute, you can also hear the sound of wings flapping. Since it’s a dense forest, the crane's call causes multiple echoes.

November 2024

İki Farklı Göçün Kesişimi / The Intersection of Two Different Migrations

Composer: Enis Çakar
Photography and Artwork: Enis Çakar

Quustead

English below

Galeriç Subasar Ormanı'nda rüzgarlı bir sonbahar günü.

Arsızca konuşan "hyla orientalis" ağaç kurbağalarına tiz sesi ile uzun kuyruklu baştankara eşlik ediyor. Ve gelecek planı yapmakla meşgul bir alakarga kendini bir yırtıcı sanar gibi ötüyor.

Kızılırmak Deltası'nda bulunan Galeriç Subasar Ormanı'nda kaydedildi.
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A windy autumn day in the Galeriç Swamp Forest.

The audacious chatter of Hyla orientalis tree frogs is accompanied by the high-pitched calls of the long-tailed tit. Meanwhile, a Eurasian jay, busy making plans for the future, screams as if pretending to be a predator.

Recorded in the Galeriç Swamp Forest, located in the Kızılırmak Delta.

October 2024

Hyla Orientalis In The Windy Swamp Forest, Galeriç Subasar Ormanı

Mallards, grey herons, and water rails resting in the Kızılırmak Delta. Sometimes, they are accompanied by songbirds, frogs and insects.

Photography and Artwork: Enis Çakar
October 2024

The Wetland Birds of Kızılırmak Delta, Samsun

A Colony of Night Heron at Kizilirmak Delta, Samsun

The spring equinox and the place where I was born. The time is 06:40 in the morning.
March 2023

Dawn Chorus in the Early Days of Spring at Sarıköy, Balıkesir

During my North Anatolia expedition, I recorded this on a cold autumn day at Bolu Yedigöller (Seven Lakes), one of my accommodation stops. Normally, Yedigöller National Park is a very popular destination and one of the most famous spots for autumn vacations. I was lucky to capture such a quiet moment, which made me very happy. Honestly, I’m not sure when I’ll find Yedigöller this silent again.

Some of the bird species heard in the recording include the european robin, eaurasian blackbird, raven, grey-headed woodpecker, among many others.

October 2024

Dawn in Mid Autumun, Yedigöller Bolu

The downpour on the fir trees at dawn and the songbirds.
November 2024

Dawn’s Autumn Rain at Küre Mountains, Kastamonu

Early in the morning, rain falls on Lake Cernek and insects sing. Sometimes mallard ducks dive into the lake through the bushes. 

October 2024
Samsun/Turkey

Rain and Insects at Lake Cernek - Kızılırmak Delta

(English below)
Yemişlerimi Kim Çaldı? Küre Dağları’nda Alakargalar

Gelecek planı yapması ve bir yırtıcı gibi ötüş taklidi ile meşhur alakargalar Küre Dağları’nın derin ormanlarında ortamı ele geçiriyor. Aynı bölgede vahşi hayvanların da yaşadığı gerçeğiyle kendilerini neye karşı hazırlıyorlar? Ses manzarasında, tehlikeli ayak seslerine kulak kesilip diğer kuş türlerini uyardığını ve susturduğunu işitiyoruz. Belki de tüm dertleri kış için sakladıkları tohum ve yemişleri diğer türlerden korumak.

Sonbaharın ortasında alakargaların sosyal davranışlarını dinleyin. 
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Who Stole My Nuts? Eurasian Jays in the Küre Mountains

Known for their future planning skills and impressive predator call mimicry, Eurasian jays dominate the deep forests of the Küre Mountains. With the presence of wild predators in the area, what are they preparing for? In the soundscape, you can hear them responding to ominous footsteps, warning and silencing other bird species. Perhaps their greatest concern is safeguarding the seeds and nuts they've stored for winter from other species.

Listen to the social behaviors of Eurasian jays in mid-autumn.

November 2024
Kastamonu

Yemişlerimi Kim Çaldı? Alakargalar / Who Stole My Nuts? Eurasian Jays

Composed by Enis Çakar
Artwork by Ezgi Sönmez

One's Search for Something

short version
The time is 06:45 in the morning.
27 March 2025

Dawn Chorus in the Early Days of Spring at Hodul, Balikesir

In the silence of the night, the bubo bubo releases its voice into the valley with all its majesty; its depth rivals that of the night itself.

recorded at midnight in Niğde Aladağlar, April 30, 2025

Bubo Bubo (Eagle Owl) Aladaglar, Emli Vadisi

Guitar, Keyboards, Field recording by Enis Çakar

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Field Recordist on Planet Earth 🍃
Sound Artist

Hear the Quiet* Places in Anatolia
Anadolu'nun Sessiz* Yerleri
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Enis Çakar

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