August 14 2015, 6:36 AM. Okavango Panhandle.

I am in awe of this bird -- always a different song, and the sense that it's coming from everywhere at once. I hid in my tent with the mic outside to capture this.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: White-Browed Robin Chat

August 13 2015, 6:54 PM. Okavango Panhandle.

Suddenly they were dropping everywhere and taking off, crashing into things, the microphone included.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Scarab Beetles Invade Camp

August 15 2015, 4:01 AM. Okavango Panhandle.

Pel's Fishing Owl is highly sought by birders -- we saw a pair of them flying later in the trip, so incredible, huge and a deep red-brown color. This night, I was awoken by the call. Listen to it with headphones or good speakers, it's so low as to barely come through via laptop speakers.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Pel's Fishing Owl At Dawn

August 16 2015, 7:23 AM. Okavango Panhandle.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Dark-Capped Bulbul

August 16 2015, 9:21 PM. Seronga.

There was such joy in Seronga as the team shared a feast, song, and dance with the families of our ba'Yei members. They've been away from home for over three months -- our arrival here is an important milestone as we reconnect with the community who directly depends on this ecosystem we are trying to protect. It also marks the beginning of a new stage in our journey -- here at long last we enter the Okavango Delta. 

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Party At Seronga With ba'Yei Families

August 17 2015, 6:36 PM. Okavango Panhandle.

The last island before Seronga and the Delta proper. Early evening, stuck the mic into the papyrus.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Bird Calls Over An Insect Drone

August 17 2015, 2:42 PM. Okavango Delta.

Lots of reeds. Sitting in front of the mokoro, dodging them.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org


Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Poling Mekoros Through Heavy Reeds

August 18 2015, 7:21 PM. Okavango Delta.

These reed frogs remind me of Xenakis' "Concret PH", an emotionally important work for me (and early example of granular synthesis). They are also "siren frogs" for me, as they always sound really close but end up luring you away from the safety of camp.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Reed Frogs In The Delta

August 17 2015, 10:06 PM. Okavango Delta.

Small groups of bull elephants clear islands to make them more elephant-friendly, in hopes of attracting a mate. Typically an older bull teaches the young ones this strategy. The sound of an elephant approaching through vegetation was totally surprising and wonderfully terrifying. Never saw it, but it was maybe 20ft away. A great example of elephant flatulence at the end.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Old Bull Elephant And His Young Apprentice Redecorate Our Campsite

August 19 2015, 7:08 AM. Okavango Delta.

Every morning is a whole new variety, I just set this one up just after dawn and let it go.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Dawn Chorus Mega Mix (No Edits)

August 19 2015, 11:22 AM. Okavango Delta near Jediba.

On a solo mission with Tom, the sound of the mokoro was different, with his freer and faster motion.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Tom Poling Through A Nice Channel

August 20 2015, 11:59 AM. Madinari island, Okavango Delta.

This expedition was often a very trying experience. A mokoro is not so nice when loaded with batteries and lenses and there is no water to float it in. We have harnesses and literally pull it like oxen across the floodplains in search of a channel. Suckage. Though a certain kind of bonding experience as well.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Not Enough Water, So We Harness Up And Pull The Mekoros

August 21 2015, 2:34 PM. Okavango Delta.

So many beautiful ambient noises here. I just put the microphone in the middle of tall grass on a medium-sized island on which we were camping.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Wind In The Grass

August 21 2015, 9:26 AM. Okavango Delta.

The scientific goals of the trip included a bird survey through the Delta transect. Members of the team call out sightings to Steve who copies, and Giles records them on a handheld device which will be synced with our database. 

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Calling Out Bird Sightings

August 22 2015, 4:06 PM. Split Island, Okavango Delta.

We were inadvertently about to camp between members of a group of elephants on a narrow strip of island. This display (ears, stomping, trumpets) let us know in no uncertain terms that we should leave the passage between them open.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Close Encounter With A Group Of Elephants

August 22 2015, 2:53 PM. Okavango Delta.

Poling our mekoro past a small termite island, we heard a fuss -- vervet monkeys. Pete and Tom both speculated it was alarm calls for a nearby leopard.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recordings: Some Angry Monkeys

August 22 2015, 10:19 AM. Okavango Delta. 

The rhythm of traveling by mekoro with the interplay between water, air, ngashi (pole), and reeds, can be very meditative and beautiful (when there is enough water and clear passage). I don't want to forget this pulse.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Wind And Water, Passage Through A Channel

August 26 2015, 5:40 AM. Chief's Island, Okavango Delta.

One of the many times where I was recording something from inside my tent with no idea what I was hearing. There was much activity in the channel next to me throughout the night, some of it probably not so benign. But the team agreed this is jumping catfish. The breeze through the palms is a definite soundmark of these islands.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Catfish Splashing At Dawn In A Palm Breeze

August 16 2015, 6:52 AM. Okavango Delta.

Beautiful call by this bird couple. Google "antiphonal birdsong". Really wanted to get this recording to send to my partner whom I was missing. She made it her ringtone.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Black-Collared Barbet

August 15 2015, 7:24 AM. Okavango Delta.

Antiphonal call that is ubiquitous in the delta, finally got a reasonably clear recording chasing them around a termite island.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Swamp Boubou

August 21st 2015, 2:59 AM. Okavango Delta.

Night sounds around my tent including some very small and very large animals.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Late Night In The Delta With Quietly Grazing Hippos

August 25 2015, 6:11 PM. Chief's Island, Okavango Delta.

A crocodile carcass on the floodplain was presumably the result of an encounter with a defensive elephant. Not many animals seemed interested in it apart from a bevy of flies (and us).

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Flies On A Crocodile Carcass

August 27 2015, 6:41 AM. Chief's Island, Okavango Delta.

I'd reconciled myself to not having the territorial call of the most iconic predator on tape. We would hear them in the distance often, terrifyingly, but always in the distance, and passing through areas so quickly didn't give much opportunity to plan ahead. My last night, on Chief's Island by Hippo Hide, I heard one briefly, and fell asleep with the mic pointed in its direction. I checked the recording in the morning, and it included this. Some freaked out baboons establish the mood. 

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 

Field Recording: Lions (And Baboons) At Dawn In Mombo

August 25 2015, 1:06 PM. Chief's Island, Okavango Delta.

Such massive animals, who can be so thunderous when they find the need, can also be so incredibly quiet. This group approached us and drank from the channel just a few meters away, leaving us in awe.

Recorded by Brian House (http://brianhouse.net, http://soundcloud.com/brianhouse) for the Okavango Wilderness Project. These sounds are in the public domain and may be downloaded and used for any purpose, but consider linking to our expedition website: http://intotheokavango.org

Equipment used: Sound Devices 702 digital recorder with Sennheiser 418 stereo shotgun microphone (M/S). Post-processing in Logic Audio (editing, normalization, EQ, limiter). Format: 96khz 24-bit WAV. 


Field Recording: Elephants Drinking Next To Us

Sound Walk #1 - Out There Island - Jer Thorp

#Okavngo16 Sound Walk 2: Steve Boyes - Awesome Island

Sound Walk #3 - Shah Selbe - Catfish Head Island

Sound Walk #4 - Jer Thorp & Shah Selbe - Two Lion Island

90 days, 1,000 miles, 3 countries, 2 rivers, 31 adventurers, 100% open data. Listen to field recordings, interviews and more from the beating heart of our planet - The Okavango.

#Okavango15 is a National Geographic supported expedition to explore the Okavango River system from source to sand. Join us in real-time as we explore one of the world's last pristine river systems.

IntoTheOkavango

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