>Hello,
>
>I'm new to this group and a complete newbie to nature recording. With
>spring just around the corner (I hope!) I was wondering if anyone had
>any tips that might help me pick a location for my first nature
>recording expedition? I plan on staying local so some specific
>questions that come to mind...
>
>Any web sites, books, or organizations that could be helpful in
>finding out what type of wildlife I might find in my region?
>
>Besides knowing what I might find in my area, any good resources for
>info on migration or any other patterns that may have an impact on
>the recording trip?
>
>Any good rules to follow when avoiding civilization and industrial
>noise pollution? For example, when considering a location should I
>avoid it if I see it's within x miles of a highway or railroad tracks?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Alan
Hi Alan--
If remote areas are a hard to access, early sunday mornings usually
are a significant improvement.
It may not be as exciting as tracking sounds, but my students and I
have very good results leaving our recording rigs running in places
we see signs of critters gathering or passing through. For some
reason, mammals seem to feel comfortable returning to a disturbed
site to check out your gear/scent after about 25 minutes. Chance
placements on low branches around fresh running water are a
surprisingly good gamble for birds if you can let it run for hours. A
close mic'd recording can be worth many distant ones. Frogs and
Toads seem to recover a bit faster-- usually back into their rhythms
after about 15-20 minutes.
I've begun to think that the self-consciousness I sometimes feel in
the presence of an animal, mic-in-hands, is very appropriate. Its a
choice species and the kinds of communications you'd most like to
enjoy and study.
Rob D.
--
Rob Danielson
Film Department
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
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