There are certain sounds that define a place. The foghorn at Bodega Bay is certainly one of them. But so is the sound of the surf at nearby Doran Beach.
S1-28 The Adaptable Coyote
Coyotes are a powerful symbol of endurance and resilience, but also of strength and intelligence. They sing out from their hidden territories as if to remind us that they, and wildness itself, are still here.
S1-27 Brewer's Blackbirds on the Napa River
The Brewer’s Blackbird is one of many bird species that are found along the Napa river… Down in the tidal flats where it gets wide just before meeting the bay…
S1-26 Mountain Lion - Wild Relative and Teacher
Some indigenous tribes in California regard Mountain lions as relatives, and consider them to be teachers. They’re revered for their intelligence and incredible athletic abilities…
S1-25 Wing-tapping Cicadas
Did you know that we have cicadas in Sonoma county? The species we’re listening to makes a clicking sound by tapping their wings. They do this to attract mates…
S1-24 Oak Titmouse Chicks
These Oak Titmouse chicks are in a backyard bird box in Santa Rosa. Maybe you’ve noticed them in your backyard too. Their parents go in and out of the nest box throughout the day as they hunt for insects to give to their young.
S1-23 The Great Animal Orchestra
The Great Animal Orchestra. Wait… an orchestra of animals? Who do you suppose is in it? Well, that depends on where in the world you are, because there’s a Great Animal Orchestra in every habitat on the planet…
S1-22 In Wildness is the Preservation of the World
In many places around the world wild voices have been silenced. In the Highlands of Scotland, for instance, apex predators, such as the Eurasian Lynx, were hunted to extinction around 1,500 years ago! Once a place loses its wildness, it’s really hard to bring it back.
S1-21 Jack London and the European Starling
In Jack London State Historic Park, outside of Jack London’s cottage, is an old oak tree. If you stand next to it on a Spring morning you may hear a mix of a lot of different kinds of birds, including the European Starling. But is this the same soundscape Jack listened to while writing his thousand words a day, over 100 years ago?
S1-20 California Quail at Sugarloaf
California Quail make a lot of different sounds, but the easiest one to remember is a three-syllable song that sounds like they’re saying “Chi-ca-go, Chi-ca-go.”
S1-19 Listening for Biodiversity
The soundscape in this forest of White Alder is incredible! Just listen to the diversity of sounds. There’s the water in the creek, at least one species of insect, and eight or more species of bird. So much can be learned just by listening to a place!
S1-18 Saving Steelhead
Fisheries biologist David Hines is standing at the bank of Walker creek, near the town of Tomales. He’s here as part of an effort to help protect Steelhead trout. Steelhead used to be abundant along the Central California coast, but now their very existence here is threatened...
Ear to the Wild Soundscape Segments on KRCB Radio!
I’m excited to announce that Ear to the Wild has teamed up with KRCB radio in Sonoma County to produce a weekly segment which will feature soundscape recordings from around the north bay area. These short pieces (played between programs) will feature soundscape recordings from around the north bay area, and will air throughout each week. The first one starts tonight (10/30/22) and features Great-horned Owls! Tune in to listen at KRCB.org, or 104.9 FM if you’re in Sonoma County.
World Listening Day
Today is World Listening Day. What exactly is that? Here’s a video by Eve Payor and the Atlantic Center for the Arts Soundscape Field Station that might just answer that question for you. Put on some headphones, take 11 minutes to check it out, and then get out there and listen to the world right there where you are. As I write this I hear the wind in the trees through the open doors and windows of my house in Glen Ellen, CA. What do you hear?
R. Murray Schafer - who is the inspiration for this day - wrote “still the noise of the mind… that is the first task.” To listen intently requires that we first be silent, and still. Try it out; you might be surprised to find a symphony of sounds happening all around you.
Jack Hines - July 18th, 2020
New Soundscape Recording of 2019 ACA Artist-In-Residence at Canaveral National Seashore
I am thrilled to share with you the creative work that I put together with field recordings collected during the residency.