Gator Song
Gator Pond. May 19, 2019 at 3am. Anhinga Trail, Everglades National Park. Recorded by Lang Elliott. AI-gen image.
Note: The recording featured above is a "3D binaural soundscape". Please wear headphones for a profound listening experience that will make you think you're actually out there, immersed in the natural world!
In the middle of the night, along the Anhinga Trail boardwalk in the Everglades, I hear the gentle purring of crickets, a distant chorus of frogs, random splashes and pops, and chuck-will’s-widows chanting their night-songs. Then, quite suddenly, a surprise—I hear, and even feel, a sonorous, drawn-out growl, coming from nearby. It’s the unmistakable low-pitched mating bellow of a male alligator.
Almost instantly, another joins in, and then another. The bellowing is clearly contagious. And then a male roars loudly from directly below me—he’s right under the boardwalk, no more than a foot or two from my feet! The bellowing continues for several more minutes, and then, just as suddenly, the alligators fall silent. Once again, all I hear are the songs of the crickets and frogs.
The Backstory:
This recording features the extraordinary low-pitched mating bellows of American Alligators, given by males during the spring and early summer breeding season to attract females and define territories. When a male sounds off, he doesn’t open his mouth and growl in the way one might expect. Instead, he arches his body with head and tail raised upward and produces low-frequency vibrations in his submerged mid-section that are so powerful that the water above becomes agitated—splashing, spraying, dancing as he roars.
Anhinga Trail is a hotspot for alligators. I arrived there in the early afternoon to meet up with fellow recordist Martyn Stewart. We walked the boardwalk together, looking for a good spot to record after dark. At the far end of the loop we came across a large pool. Although we spotted only a few gators, we were certain many others were lurking nearby, hidden from view. When we returned at dusk, we placed our mics in that same spot and waited. After many hours of silence, the gators finally kicked into action, putting on an impressive vocal display—one we will remember for as long as we live.
The Anhinga Trail boardwalk by day. Wikipedia Commons.
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Just listed to your wonderful recording this morning from my slightly cool house in Ithaca, NY. I don’t think that I ever heard a one of those throaty alligator calls but I have certainly seen them on the Saint John’s River near DeLand, FL where my grandmother lived. However, the night sounds of the crickets and other insects brought me back to those very humid August nights (no air-conditioning) with only a window screen separating me from the very much alive night-time world.
It is so good to hear the sounds of nature instead of the not so natural bleatings of politicians and the sounds of ugly anger!! thanks
I love this soundscape immersion although it is a bit spine tingling.
Any relation to Townes Van Zandt?
What an amazing sound! So rich and deep. Any fear of an attack while recording? You must be close to those big jaws to get such detailed sound!
I was on an elevated boardwalk with sturdy railing. See photo that I’ve added at the end of the post.
Other-worldly, Lang; well done. And the photo is outstanding!
I hate to burst the bubble, but I generated that photo using Google’s ImageFX (I just added this info to the description below the recording). It took quite awhile to get that result. I had already scoured the internet for an actual photo conveying the desired mood and nighttime appeal. I tried Shutterstock, iStockPhoto and several other online sources, but I came up empty-handed. The world is changing as we speak and I offer no apology for surfing the AI wave.
It used to be that we were told to not believe anything we heard and only half of what we saw. Apparently, we should not now believe anything.
Well, in my case, at least you can believe the recordings and the stories, but even then be careful. For instance my gator recording was almost destroyed by fairly loud, metallic, mid-frequency scraping sounds coming from a nearby Park facility. The scraping went on for the entire night and I was literally pulling my hair out by the roots. But I persevered and recorded anyway. Thankfully, armed with modern editing technology, I was miraculously able to fix the problem so that I could share this fabulous recording online and write about the experience. The whole affair involved a full day… Read more »
Wow! Thank you for sharing, Lang.
Beautiful chorus. Giving me a vacation from my 10 degree winter weather in Michigan
Oh I have had so many wonderful adventures in the Okefenokee listening to all of these sounds. I do have an Okefenokee sounds CD I will play at night and with the speakers under my bed it sounds like you are there. Love your recordings!!
Wow–this is very visceral. I have never heard alligators before–thank you! I felt this in my guts!
Visceral indeed!
Magical! Takes me back to a long meander I took on Anhinga Trail years ago, and getting to watch this amazing ritual. It’s an amazing place!
Anhinga Trail is a real jewel for sure, I’ve gotten lots of soundscapes there through the years,
Wonderful! I live way up north – certainly never expected to hear an alligator. Makes this cold, snowy night feel warmer, somehow. Thank you!
Crazy, but it really is a sexy sound to me. I can feel the vibes.
Sexy? Well, I certainly don’t advise bedding up with one of these monsters! So … you’re still alive and well down in Delaware?
Still here, and doing well, but at the moment looking forward to listening to the drips and flow of melting ice. I see Liz and Jeff regularly – let me know if you are in the area!
Terrific moonlit photo to go with the several part harmony of treble crickets, percussion Chuck Will’s Widow and bass gator. Beautiful, Lang – thanks.
How amazing it was to listen to this next to the wood stove tonight with single digit temperature outside and snow on the ground. You took me to another world, Lang. Thank you!
Luv that mug shot!! And hearing an alligator right under the boardwalk must have been an awesome experience. I do enjoy hearing the Chuck-Will’s Widow in the background as well. Thanks so much for sharing!
I agree! The Chuck-will’s-Widow in the background is a really nice touch.
What a mesmerizing face! Thanks for bringing it up so close to us (safely!)
The photograph…he looks cute! Thanks for the post, I’ve missed you!
A “cute’ alligator …. hmmmmm. Well, I definitely find the little youngsters to be quite cute, especially so when they make their sweet grunting sounds.
Amazing creatures. I could almost feel the vibration.
With good headphones that have excellent bass response, you will definitely feel the vibration in your body.
Wonderful recording and very scary sounding!
I am a huge fan of your recordings. Not quite my daily bread, but pretty much!
… maybe a bit of “nature jam” for your daily bread?
Nothing more nutritious!
Amazing. What a magical, prehistoric sound.
Add a croak or two from a Great Blue Heron and some screams from a Limpkin and you’d think you’re back in the Mesozoic Era.
LOL some of those campsites in Everglades and the Okeefenokee are just platforms in the water, with the gators right there beside you! We also heard barred owls that sounded like monkeys. Thanks, I listen to your recordings daily. I even have some of your OG CDs.