Coyote | The Music of Nature

Mesquite Nightscape

by Lang Elliott · February 3, 2011 · 15 Comments

I’ve been working on a soundscape collection I’m going to call Insect Lullabies, featuring recordings that will lull you to sleep, at least when played at fairly low volume. One of my favorites is yet another jewel recorded by my buddy Ted Mack, this one made during our 2005 visit to Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in southern Texas (see Chaparral Concerto for a dawn chorus from the same location).

Ted’s nighttime soundscape features a rich chorus of insects offset by the distant howls and yips of coyotes. I also hear a few calls from a Groove-billed Ani early-on in the recording. About halfway through, a large insect flies right by the microphone. Ted and I had trouble with Kissing Bugs while at the refuge, so my guess is that the wing noise is from one of those obnoxious cone-nosed bloodsuckers that bit me all to heck that very same night . . . well, that’s another story . . . right now, just forget about those nasty bugs and enjoy the wonderful play of sounds:

Insects and Coyotes, 3 am, 21 May 2005, Chaparral WMA near Artesia Springs, Texas. Recorded by Ted Mack.

This recording, I believe, qualifies as a lullaby, but only if played at fairly low volume. I’m thinking about adjusting the loudness of the insects, pulling down the loudest crickets just a bit. What does everyone think? A thumbs up for the “lullaby” aspect, or do the insects overpower you here? Perhaps the near coyote is a bit too loud? Let me know what you think. If there’s a problem, I’ll massage it into shape!

Coyote Echos

by Lang Elliott · January 18, 2011 · 9 Comments

Way back in 1994 (seems like yesterday), Ted Mack and I traveled for nearly six months, gathering soundscapes and species recordings. While visiting Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in northcentral Nebraska, Ted managed to snag a close-and-clean recording of a coyote barking and howling, with others sounding off in the distance:

Coyote barking and howling, with others sounding off in response, around 4:30 am, 14 March 1994, Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Recorded by Ted Mack.

This is an engaging recording. The nearest coyote is quite loud, even though I’ve mellowed him down quite a bit. Yes, he’s rather in-your-face, but nonetheless this is a really fine species portrait and the echos of both the close individual and the distant coyotes add considerable depth to the listening experience. I particularly enjoy the group outburst at the end. Listen also for the soft moans of Greater Prairie Chickens and the calls of Canada Geese.

What do you think of this recording? While certainly not in the relaxation category, do you agree that it is compelling and instructive? Though some of the outbursts are loud, they’re fairly easy on the ears, aren’t they? I’m very curious as to how everyone will respond, given that I’ve mainly been posting “easy listening” recordings.

By the way, my plan is to use this rather brief recording (I’ve posted the entire thing) at the very beginning of a title that will be called “Prairie Spring,” which will actually be a re-mastering of an earlier version that I produced years ago. “Prairie Spring” will feature a variety of prairie soundmakers, including Greater Prairie Chicken, Sharp-tailed Grouse, American Bittern, Western Meadowlark, Baird’s Sparrow, and many more.

Coyote Interlude

by Bob McGuire · January 18, 2010

It is 9:30 pm near our campsite in the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in southwestern Kentucky. Sunset was a few hours ago and the moon is up and almost full. I am standing on a dirt road with a marshy area in front of me and a wooded hillside to my back. The recorder has been on for several minutes, capturing the exquisite early fall chorus of insects. There are also the plops of nuts that have been cut by a foraging flying squirrel and the snap of a twig here and there.

Suddenly I hear the lone wail of a coyote, and the hairs on my back tingle. Even though I know that coyotes prey mainly on small mammals like mice, squirrels, and rabbits, I cannot help feeling vulnerable. Then a second coyote joins in, and a third. Pretty soon there are several of them, calling back and forth. To me these are lonely sounds, but with their own strange beauty.

Coyote Interlude at Land Between the Lakes Kentucky_Bob McGuire_10 Oct 2009

I recall that at this time of year the coyote family breaks up. The pups leave their home territory to go off and establish territories of their own. What am I hearing? Is this the final family conversation before the pups leave for good? I only wish I could actually see what is going on.

Just as suddenly as the coyotes began, they fall silent, and as I wait for more howls, a distant Barred Owl comes on to say “goodnight”.
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Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky