Wind, Ravens, Reeds
At first light, I hike into Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park. Gusty wind blows through a dense thicket of stiff reeds, producing a plethora of snaps, crackles and pops. Frolicking ravens croak repeatedly as they fly up and down the Rio Grande River, their calls echoing off the steep cliffs above. Such a pleasing, enveloping mix of the sounds of the wind, ravens and reeds!
Wolf Mountain
While I’ve recorded in wild areas across North America for over 30 year, there is one species I’ve had trouble documenting … the Gray Wolf. Until last week, I had only managed to capture one recording of this timid and elusive mammal… the distant howls of a lone individual sounding off in the middle of the night in the White Mountains of Arizona …
Aravaipa Dreamer
I cannot tell a lie … I am the Aravaipa Dreamer. Day in, day out, I dream of being in Aravaipa Canyon, one of my favorite places on Planet Earth. And now it appears my dreams will come true. In early March, I will be embarking on a three-month nature recording expedition to the Southwest …
Coyote Moon
While sifting through recordings yesterday, I came across my all-time favorite coyote outburst, captured shortly before dawn in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, back in 2011. I was with fellow recordist Ted Mack. We set up camp at the Cade’s Cove campground, but didn’t retire after dark like all the other campers. Instead, we rushed off to hike the 10-mile loop road (which is closed at night for cars), stopping here and there in hopes of recording something interesting. We were not disappointed …
Busy as a Beaver
Early last autumn, I recorded the sounds of a beaver colony that had taken up residence in a nearby wetland. My venture was a success. Not only did I capture the scraping, chewing and moaning sounds of the beaver, I also documented periodic visits by barred owls, their resonant hoots echoing across the landscape.
Although I’m happy with my recordings, a drama was unfolding that concerned me … a drought had nearly dried up the wetland, forcing the colony to move upstream to the last remaining section with water. In what appeared to be a frantic bid to avoid catastrophe, the beaver quickly built a new dam, constructed a new den, and then began deepening the channel by shoving large amounts of mud on to the banks … clearly a “last-ditch effort” to preserve their aquatic environment.
Winter Rain
Happy New Year 2021! After nearly a year of ignoring my blog (a break I sorely needed), I’m jumping back into it, with the goal of posting regularly in the weeks and months to come. To commemorate the new year with nature sounds, I spent a number of hours attempting to record light rain falling in an oak woods, the raindrops splatting against compressed leaves and patches of snow. Altogether I’m quite happy with the result …
The Wat’ry Mirror – A Celebration of Water Striders
Not long ago, I became entranced by Water Striders inhabiting a small brook … the remarkable shadows they cast on the bottom of pools, the bright “starburst” reflections where their feet touch the water, and the wonderful play of light on the water’s surface when they skitter here and there.
Autumn Trek Podcast
Join Lang on an autumn nature recording expedition to Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky, where you will enjoy the howls and yips of coyotes, the hoots of and screams of barred owls, and much more.
Nature Sounds for Relaxation
This playlist features spacious, ambient binaural 3D nature recordings carefully chosen for relaxation, meditation and stress relief. Please listen using headphones or earbuds.
Southward Bound 2019
Now that spring has come to upstate New York, I’ve decided to drive south toward heat and mosquitoes. Go figure … sometimes I do just the opposite of what a “normal” person would do …
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