Martyn,
I use a Ghillie suit instead of a blind. The Ghillie suit has the advantage
of mobility over a blind, and it can be used for both photography and sound
recording. It also helps get rid of mosquitos. It is too hot to use a
ghillie suit in the summer months in the Arizona desert, but is fine in the
mountains. Ghillie suits are available from Cabelas in the U.S. However, I
think making your own suit is a good project. The local materials would make
for better camoflage.
Greg Clark
At 08:05 PM 8/25/2003 -0700, wrote:
>Apart from long cables has anyone tried using a Bird Blind? I use mine
>that I constructed from old tent poles and fabric I got from REI. I find
>especially in high birding areas and under my feeders, I get some great
>recordings plus a seat and protection from the dreaded Mozzie! Sometimes
>you have to sit for a while as the birds get back into their rhythm but
>I've recorded all sorts that will perch on top of my poles!
>The downside is sometimes on very hot days, it gets bloody warm but also
>photography too, it saves about $5000 in telephoto lenses :-)
>
>Martyn
>
>Martyn Stewart
> <http://naturesound.org> http://naturesound.org
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rich Peet
>Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 7:42 AM
>To:
>Subject: [Nature Recordists] Re: Long cable questions
>
>note my additions inserted within original text.
>
>--- In "Steve Pelikan"
><> wrote:
>> Thanks to several of you for suggestions about sticking a mic out
>on a
>> mudflat and
>> running a cable back to a recorder. This sounds like a "grown up"
>version of
>> what I did when I put a mic next to
>> a Carolina Wren nest (in our eaves) with a long enough wire to
>reach a
>> recorder. (Worked like a charm.)
>
>I can't say I am a "grown up" as I am still playing.
>
>>
>> This is also one of two approaches I've considered to recording
>Prairie
>> Chickens (or Spruce Grouse) on a lek.
>
>I botched the last Prairie Chicken lek I recorded as well but did get
>some good mono recordings. Things to keep in mind for the next time
>you try are:
>1. These guys are very loud and can easily surprise you on pre-set
>gains for drop and return.
>2. It is not a good event to try and record with a parabolic. This is
>because you are capturing four different types of sound at once. The
>throat "hum", the chicken "squack", the foot "thumping", and
>the "collisions" during the display. In making your setup keep in
>mind that the "hum" is projected or thrown. The direction will sound
>as if it is comming from any large low object near the lek and not
>from the bird.
>3. The best bet for recording is to reserve a blind inside of the
>lek. There are a few available and mics can be set up before on the
>roof. I do recommend the roof and not the ground because of
>the "hum". If you want me to post a sound example of an active lek
>just let me know and I will.
>
>As far as Spruce Grouse, I recommend that you walk up to one. Grab it
>by the feet and hold it in front of the mic :)
>
>
>> The other approach I thought of was to dump the recorder and mic on
>the lek
>> long before dawn. Turning it on might be a problem (though I
>thought maybe a
>> radio-control would be possible), so my plan was to use an MD set
>in "long
>> record mode" that would do almost 4 hours in low quality mono, and
>hope the
>> birds started before the batteries died or the the disk filled. For
>my one
>> chance, (I don't live near any leks) it got very cold overnight and
>the
>> batteries died long before there was any activity, even though I'd
>but the
>> recorder in a styrofoam box. (Perhaps a small heater?) But the
>moring was
>> calm and clear, the sun rising behind us, and the displays, viewed
>through a
>> scope from about 1/2 mile were wonderful, so I have no regrets.
>>
>> My questions, then, are:
>>
>> 1. How long a cable can I hope to use? I assume it should be
>shielded? Do I
>> need an extra "repeater" or "amp" to use a really long cable? Is it
>enough
>> to get inexpensive, shielded (3-conductor) wire and solder (I've
>learned to
>> do that now!) connectors on each end, or are there other things to
>consider?
>
>Balanced line outside I have gone to 100 yards without any notice of
>loss.
>
>Unbalanced I have gone to 150' outside without noise or loss using
>good mic cable.
>
>No further preamp needed.
>
>If you are going to play with cheap telephone wire for mic wire, do
>not make the mistake I did. Stay away from aluminum foil shield. The
>stuff breaks very quickly in field use. Just avoid aluminum in any
>cable like the plague.
>
>>
>> 2. What about my idea of sticking a recorder out near the birds and
>turning
>> it on from a distance? Have you tried it? Can anyone offer
>suggestions about
>> how to do it?
>
>For minidisc, the remote unit is looking for a specific resistance
>for each command across the two active pins. A remote garage door
>opener circuit could easily switch a relay to switch in the resister
>for record. You want only a momentary contact. Let me know if you
>have success. Minidisc.org has the info for the resister values and
>if you have trouble finding it I have the Sony values around here
>somewhere.
>
>>
>> 3. My first recorder (a hand-sized Sony) had a "voice acitvated"
>recording
>> system that would start recording at either one of two user-
>selectable sound
>> levels. When I tried sticking it next to an American Robin nest, it
>switched
>> on and off too fast to make a useful recording. Has anyone
>considered /built
>> improved versions of this sort of system? I guess I could program a
>laptop
>> to start recording at a given level and keep going for a while. Or
>is there
>> a way to "fiddle with" commerically available voice-activated
>recording
>> systems to adjust when they turn off? Could I use one of these
>(cheap, I
>> hope) systems to turn on recording by a higher quality recorder?
>>
>> As always, I look forward to everyone's suggestions and insights.
>With all
>> your help, someday I'll start to think I know what I'm doing!
>
>My cheap designs altering electronic kitchen count down timers have
>not yet been successful. I am still working on that. The problem I
>am currently overcomming is in making a single mommentary resistance
>as the alarm keeps pulsing.
>
>adjustable level vox is available for laptop recording and I do use
>that.
>
>
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Steve P
>
>
>
>
>
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