Listening and recording the wild

[josephusminimus]

I actually got into this in some depth trying to keep owls from depredating my herd of free-ranging chickens:&nbsp;<h2 class="entry-title"><a title="Permalink to White Trash Repairs and Fixes &ndash; Owls and Rock &lsquo;n&nbsp;Roll" href="http://sofarfromheaven.com/2011/08/26/white-trash-repairs-and-fixes-4-–-owls/" rel="bookmark">White Trash Repairs and Fixes &ndash; Owls and Rock &lsquo;n&nbsp;Roll</a></h2><p>It worked well, reflecting sound.&nbsp; But it got me interested enough to do a lot of thinking and experimenting from the direction of listening to what the wildlife were saying, the cows, and the other critters making noise in the woods were doing to identify themselves by the noises they make going through life.<br /><br />A person can actually become acquainted with, say, individual members of a pack of coyotes and their behaviors using one of these.&nbsp; Not to mention various birds and other creatures going mostly unnoticed through life.<br /><br />Setting up to do it is cheap and simple, a lot of fun for the person with the right sense of humor and imagination, and can pass a lot of time without listening to talking heads on the radio or television.<br /><br />&nbsp;DIY Parabolic Reflector Microphone<br /><a href="http://www.ehow.com/way_5572913_diy-parabolic-reflector-microphone.html">http://www.ehow.com/way_5572913_diy-parabolic-reflector-microphone.html</a></p><p><br />Dollar Store Parabolic Mic<br /><a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Dollar-Store-Parabolic-Mic/">http://www.instructables.com/id/Dollar-Store-Parabolic-Mic/</a><br /><br /></p>

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

I used to just put my chickens in the coop at night. Let the owls eat all the unwanted rodent critters, rather than stopping them from hunting entirely.

 

[josephusminimus]

I used to just put my chickens in the coop at night. Let the owls eat all the unwanted rodent critters, rather than stopping them from hunting entirely.

<br /><br />Works fine if your chickens aren't communists determined to sleep in trees.&nbsp; But I don't advise other people about disciplinary matters regarding herds of chickens and where they sleep, or don't sleep.&nbsp; Each of us will likely find our own directions.&nbsp; I'm not evangelical about the chickens you used to have.<br /><br />The mention of chickens was just incidental, anyway, as a means of discovering the joys of listening to wildlife.&nbsp; Which is the subject of the thread.&nbsp; Maybe if you think chickens would make a good hobby for on the road it would be worth a thread.

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

lol was just adding my "honest" opinion to a part of your post.

 

[josephusminimus]

lol was just adding my "honest" opinion to a part of your post.

<br /><br />Same as I was on the part of yours.<br /><br />After you tucked your hens away for the night and had all those owls swooping around chasing mouse-critters and other prey did you ever devote any time to listening to them, to the mice?<br /><br />You can actually pick them up on a microphone, or if the owls aren't coming around, you can hear the cats sneaking up, controlling what the owls ain't doing.<br /><br />It's all rock and roll.

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Yes I have had great horned owls hooting right outside my bedroom window the thought off taping them was not what I had in mind, also heard the screams of rabbits as the gave their last breaths fighting for life, no need to record that either. I enjoy life and am greatful for every moment, my memory is all I need.<br /><br />I really don't feel cats should be allowed to roam wild. They are not native creatures and do far more damage to beautiful song birds and baby critters than I feel outweighs their value. If you choose to have them as pets then they are excellent companions.

 

[wildmountainhoney]

Oh no, I don't want to hear mice screaming for their lives! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/bawl.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> But, the rest sounds pretty cool!

 

[yesican]

An awesome sound is the wind through the wings of a large bird of prey.&nbsp; I've been blessed to hear it often in my neck of the woods.&nbsp; I've heard the grunt of a bear (real recently-made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!); the cries of a dying rabbit as it was trying to get away from an eagle's clutch; and, the sound of a rock slide just before a boulder hit the back of my pickup.&nbsp;<br />&nbsp; Yup, sounds are&nbsp;awesome, but it is the smells of the earth that quickly bring a memory to the front of the mind.<br /><br />Rae<br />&nbsp;

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

I got to see my first bald eagle this summer is was amazing creature to watch.... and I was very glad not to be on it's menu. I also got to see a bear very up close at 1 am in the mornig when my dogs where tring to kill it, neither was harmed but it was very scary, and I really thought I would be&nbsp;burring&nbsp;a dog that night.

 

[josephusminimus]

Yes I have had great horned owls hooting right outside my bedroom window the thought off taping them was not what I had in mind, also heard the screams of rabbits as the gave their last breaths fighting for life, no need to record that either. I enjoy life and am greatful for every moment, my memory is all I need.<br /><br />I really don't feel cats should be allowed to roam wild. They are not native creatures and do far more damage to beautiful song birds and baby critters than I feel outweighs their value. If you choose to have them as pets then they are excellent companions.

<br /><br /><em>

I really don't feel cats should be allowed to roam wild. They are not native creatures and do far more damage to beautiful song birds and baby critters than I feel outweighs their value. If you choose to have them as pets then they are excellent companions.

</em><br /><br /><br />I don't know enough about other people and their pets to have an opinion.&nbsp; Mine roam, always have.&nbsp; If others don't want to allow them to roam it's okay by me.&nbsp; I won't insist they agree with my ways and those of my cats.

 

[josephusminimus]

I got to see my first bald eagle this summer is was amazing creature to watch.... and I was very glad not to be on it's menu. I also got to see a bear very up close at 1 am in the mornig when my dogs where tring to kill it, neither was harmed but it was very scary, and I really thought I would be&nbsp;burring&nbsp;a dog that night.

<br /><br />When I lived in Grants, NM, a large drainage ditch ran through town behind the place I lived and a pair of bald eagles cruised it several times a day seasonally.&nbsp; One of my cats, Xerox, also liked to hang out back there catching mice and whatnot.&nbsp; When he vanished it took me a while to find the remains and the evidence suggested one of the eagles got him.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br />Later, Mehitabel vanished and I eventually found her parts beneath a telephone pole near the ditch.&nbsp; I always figured she was eagle-meat, too.<br /><br />A cat's going to die one way or another, same as the rest of us.&nbsp; I've always considered being killed and eaten by an eagle was a fairly classy way to go.<br /><br />I'm hoping eventually, in my own case, it will be coyotes.

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

Nope I'd be happy with an old fashion lightning strike, or any nice instant quick death would be my preference feel free to record it if you like...lol

 

[offroad]

interesting discussion. am a hobby naturalist myself and birder. You can hear and see owls and hawks downtown in the city. have seen them. Cats can be owl or eagle food, if they do not shelter in the night. Look up the scream of a barn owl - sounds like a woman getting attacked. also listen to the hoot of a long eared owl, which sounds like a dog barking from a distance.

You forgot all the insect critters making noise all night, which can be really noisy. or the frogs in ponds too.

 

[josephusminimus]

interesting discussion. am a hobby naturalist myself and birder. You can hear and see owls and hawks downtown in the city. have seen them. Cats can be owl or eagle food, if they do not shelter in the night. Look up the scream of a barn owl - sounds like a woman getting attacked. also listen to the hoot of a long eared owl, which sounds like a dog barking from a distance. You forgot all the insect critters making noise all night, which can be really noisy. or the frogs in ponds too.

<br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/thumb-up-1.jpg?w=500&amp;h=873" alt="" />

 

[Where~the~wind~blows]

LOL Jack driving while taking pics of a thumbs up! you win...