I rose early this morning and drove to a nearby natural area in hopes of getting videos of a Northern Mockingbird. Luck was with me. Shortly after arriving, I found a cooperative singing male and managed to snag some fairly nice footage, with decent sound to boot!
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Phoebe Two-Song
Our Eastern Phoebe showed up about a week ago. This morning he was singing like crazy, so I shot some video. Have you ever noticed that the male has two different song patterns? …
Dawn at Willow Pond
This morning I visited Willow Pond, a favorite spot of mine in the nearby Finger Lakes National Forest. It was cool and foggy. There was not much activity … a few male Red-winged Blackbirds setting up territories, a Song Sparrow or two singing from shrubbery, a few woodpeckers drumming in the distance …
Robin Awakening
I am so excited! I just discovered another jewel … a recording of an American Robin awakening at dawn next to a small mountain brook. It only lasts five minutes, but it is so incredibly pleasing to my ear. Please don’t play it too loudly … it is made of fine silk and should be handled with care!
Bird Song Ditties (for kiddies)
I was just looking through some old work and came across my bird song ditties … a project that is at least six years old. I created these for kids, to help them learn to read while also exposing them to common bird songs. Let me know what you think of them!
Goal-Oriented Nature Immersion?
This morning, I got up at dawn and went out with my video gear in hopes of getting some nice footage. It was a frustrating session. When it comes to nature immersion, is it really a good thing for me to be driven primarily by my goals, and by the technology I am using to capture images and sounds? The following essay addresses this concern …
American Woodcock – PeentMeister
Wintering in the southern states, the American Woodcock (which I affectionately refer to as the PeentMeister) will soon begin its trek northward, arriving on its breeding grounds as early as late February in states such as Missouri, Tennessee and Kentucky. The breeding display is remarkable …
Crested Redbird
I enjoy making up my own names for birds, especially when I’m not happy with the accepted common name. A case in point is the Northern Cardinal, one of our most common backyard birds here in the East. What have I decided to call it, and why? Read this post to find out!
Hermit Thrush at Dusk
Wrap your ears around this splendid recording: a lone Hermit Thrush, calling and singing at dusk against a backdrop of spring peepers. I made this recording in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. How exciting to witness the awe-inspiring transition from dusk into the darkened night …
Trickling Brooksong
It is early summer … I am sitting next to a small, trickling brook in deep forest, celebrating the dawning of the day. Various songbirds soon chime in, including Scarlet Tanager, Wood Thrush, Veery, Blue Jay, and Dark-eyed Junco. What a tranquil and healing combination of natural sounds …
Robin Singing at Dusk
Searching my collection for unused soundscapes, I came across this jewel: a lone American Robin singing at dusk with spring peepers chorusing in the background. This is a zen-infused recording, a simple yet profoundly moving soundscape that is at once relaxing and sublime …
Birds Thinking Spring
I rise at dawn on this fine winter morning and excitedly venture out in my yard to record bird sounds. It is chilly, 24F, with snow patches clinging to the ground. Our pond is frozen over, reflecting the rising sun. Though winter still has a firm hold, there is a surprising variety of bird sounds …
Caprock Coulee Soundscape
Enjoy this beautiful summer dawn chorus from Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota. Listen for the songs of American Crow, Yellow-breasted Chat, Mourning Dove, Painted Bunting, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, and crickets …
Dream of Spring
As temperatures plummet here in upstate New York, I cannot help but dream of spring. Yesterday I stumbled upon a dawn chorus from May 31 in 2013, recorded at a beaver pond not far from where I live. When I listened to it, I was struck by its inherent beauty, by the sweetly balanced mix of frog and bird sounds as dawn unfolds …
Gray Catbird – Silhouette Song
This morning I went out with one goal in mind: to get video footage of a singing Gray Catbird, silhouetted against the dawn sky. Was I successful? Judge for yourself …
















