As experiment temporarily placed my Telinga Clip-on Mics in my parabolic dish using a small 3" X 5" partition of 1/8" press board to see if a decent stereo recording would result.  Found a willing subject - a Swainson's Thrush in Redwood park in Oakland , CA. Very hard to keep the bird centered in the soundfield . Part of the song would frequently shift to the right or left, sounding unnatural.  Will experiment with different partitions and mic placement.  At times the stereo effect sounds pretty good to me.  Opinions?

Telinga Clip-Ons in Parabolic Dish

Pair of Telinga clip-on omni microphones cliped to a 8" tree trunk using foam pads and a strap to simulate a Jecklin disc array.  Hoping to use this minimalist setup when traveling abroad and desiring to record soundscapes.Recorder is Marrantz PM 661

Tree used as part of microphone array

A Monaural recording made with homemade parabolic microphone in Pinnacles National Monument in California.  This Steller's Jay was a complete surprise for me as I've never heard these vocalizations from one before.  I followed the bird at close range as it casually browsed on the large limbs of a Sycamore , not the least bothered by my presence. It's songs went on continuously  for almost a minute at a time.  I quit after about 5 minutes of recording.  There was a lot more variety than what is heard here but much of the recording is obscured by wind and stream noise down in the narrow canyon.

Steller's Jay-Pinnacles 4/ 20/ 12

The Middle Fork of the Feather River originates in the many springs that well up in the center of the Sierra Valley,a very broad,flat intermountain valley. Moist lush mountain habitat in the Yuba Pass area on it's west flank gives way to dry sage/pine habitat to the east. Where the many threads from springs join in the valley's center there is an old iron bridge that affords an amazing view and sound experience of one of the richest fresh water marshes of the California mountains.  Haying and traditional cattle ranching has remained little changed over many years and land development that has plagued other  Sierra valleys has not come to this one yet. I pray that my grandchildren can one day feel the power of this place.
Recorded with modified Jecklin disc microphone array-,Sennhieser MKH 20 mics and Marrantz PMD 661 recorder.  Some filtering of low frequency -below 300 HZ - to reduce wind ,aircraft and car sound has somewhat diminished the wonderful pumping sounds of the American Bitterns but has made the other sounds more accessible.

Sierra Valley-Iron Bridge 6/12/12

After my initial recording with parabolic dish I set up my stereo mic array, ran my cable to a shady spot out of view of the Chats and had a nice lunch while recording.  The birds settled down into a paced interaction that I feel was not very influenced by my presence. As time went on the sounds and location of the singers changed.This is part of a 35 minute recording.When I listen now it's fun to visualize a friendly familial game of catch only an auditory one.

Yellow-breasted Chats - Chico - 6 27 12

As the day grew longer and breezier I made another stereo recording without moving my mics or intruding into the area. The Chats continued with their songs but the sounds they made changed .  Made me wonder what it all meant.  I found it all so enjoyable to experience "Chatness" if only for a while.

Yellow-breasted Chats II

A friend invited me to come see and record the Yellow-breasted Chats that nest on his property each year.  The location is down in a canyon in the butte country in the foothills east of Chico,CA.  There is a year-round stream with large sycamore trees and open areas adjacent with lots of blackberry bushes.  This habitat is exactly what the field guides say these birds prefer.  This recording was made with parabolic dish in mono.  My intrusion into their  area sent the most vocal bird over to a perch on the edge of the sunny opening where he sang a purposeful song.  later I set up to record in stereo,getting out of the way .  It didn't take long for the 3 or maybe more Chats to go back to their business, sounding as they did when I first arrived and listened from a distance.  This is late in their nesting cycle and late in the day as well.  I hope to come earlier in the future to get a fuller understanding of such an interesting species.

Yellow-breasted Chat  III


Recorded on recent field trip to Redwood Regional Park in Oakland- Dave Quady's Owl Class 2013.  The Saw-Whet owl was calling a short distance away and came closer in response to Dave's vocalizations.  Class members' footsteps are heard as we approach a live-oak concealing the owl but it managed to stay hidden.

Saw-Whet Owl   -  Owl Class field trip 02 09 13



Group of Varied Thrushes along Laurel Trail downhill near stream, Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley,CA .  MONO recording using Parabolic mic.  

VARIED THRUSHES Tilden Park 3 10 13

I wanted to document the possible "eruption year of Varied Thrush here in the San Francisco area with a stereo soundscape recording after recording them a few days ago with a parabolic dish mic.  Found them singing at dawn next to Jewel Lake in Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley.  The loud sounds of aircraft,light rail, park ranger conveyances, and joggers overwhelmed me.  Still, there seems to be a rhythm here when listened to just as sound.  The woodpeckers are a surprise. Who is aware of who?

Varied Thrushes and Woodpeckers  3-16-13

At 4:30 AM little is stirring in the campground at Pinnacles Natl. Monument in California.  A lone Northern Saw-Whet Owl sings intermittently , still seeking a mate perhaps.  Several Western Screech Owls call from their perches .Two are in the same tree and may be a mated pair. A night roost of  more than a dozen Turkey Vultures stain and crack small branches in a tall nearby pine as they shift positions.  Rodents forage in the dead leaves beneath the huge Valley Oaks. Turn your volume very low for best listening.


Pre-Dawn Owls in Pinnacles Campground 3-21-13

I am a 66 year old retired automotive technician and am now pursuing my passions as an amateur naturalist. I travel extensively fly fishing,birding,and most recently sound recording. Primarily I'm recording natural soundscapes and also individual bird vocalizations.  I've participated in workshops given by The Macaulay Library of The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and The Nature Sound Society.  I build most of my sound recording equipment and am in the process of learning to better handle and share my recordings through the internet-thus SoundCloud.  

John Brenneman

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