When it's not windy, the coastal areas are beginning to show some
signs of bird and frog life, Volker. The Sierra Nevada range
(including Yosemite and Sequoia/Kings Canyon) are pretty much covered
with late spring snow still and not expected to show the usual robust
springtime soundscapes until mid to late June at this point. One
exception would be the eastern Sierras (north of Reno and just east
of Yosemite) at Mono Lake if you're interested in spade foot toads,
which are just beginning to get vocal and can be located at the hot
springs about a half mile (800m) to the north of the northern rim of
the lake.
Pfeiffer State Park in Big Sur should be OK if you can get far enough
away from the ocean noise, as will Big Basin where you'll need to
hike but where you should find marbled murrlets and a few species of
owls at this time. If you want Pacific Ocean ambience, nearby
Pfeiffer State Beach is a terrific place to record if you can catch
it when there's no wind.
Around this area (Sonoma Valley) there are several terrific locations
including some wonderful sites along the ridge in Sugarloaf State
Park where it is approaching "high season" for natural
soundscapes...especially for dawn choruses and streams.
If the winds die down over the next several weeks, the redwood
forests around Eureka along the coast at the northwestern part of the
state might be pretty good although it's a bit early for much
activity except for Pacific tree frogs.
Inland and to the north, the Trinity Mountains (just west of Red
Bluff) will still be snow-covered and not accessible at the spots you
would want to record.
Bernie Krause
>Hi!
>
>I'll be on an field trip to California for four weeks from the end
>of April to the end of May.
>One of my aims is to see as many old growth sequoia and redwood
>groves as possible as I am very much into these big trees, the other
>aim is of course to take advantage of some of the less spoilt North
>American soundscapes (compared to my homecountry Germany!).
>I will definitely skip all big cities and towns!
>What I am after are natural soundscapes and ambience. I don't go for
>particular species as I am not familiar with them anyway, but of
>course I eagerly accept suggestions.
>Another favourite of mine is water: creeks, lakes, rivers, streams,
>waterfalls, you get the idea....
>I would be very grateful for some advice and tips from the group as
>to where I might encounter especially interesting living soundscapes.
>
>I give you a rough idea of my route:
>
>Malibu Creek SP, Southern Sierra Nevada (Sequoia NM, NF and NP),
>Yosemite NP, Calaveras Big Trees SP, Stanislaus NF, Northern
>California Redwood Coast( Grizzly Creek Redwoods SP, Humboldt
>Redwoods SP, Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP, Del Norte Coast Redwoods
>SP, Prairie Creek Redwoods SP, Redwood NP), Southern Redwood SP
>(Butano SP, Big Basin Redwoods SP, Pfeiffer Big Sur SP).
>
>I have to admit, that's an awful lot of trees!! :-)
>
>So if you have any kind of suggestions as to in which bush or near
>which creek I should spend my dawns or dusks or days anywhere in
>relative vicinity of my route, I would be more than happy.
>I have been in the Southern Sierra before, but only for some days.
>I am quite mobile (by car and on foot) and not afraid of rough
>terrain, but would avoid several days long hikes as this limits my
>treewatching activities, so fairly easy accessibility would be
>welcome.
>
>Thanks a million in advance
>
>
>Volker
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>"Microphones are not ears,
>Loudspeakers are not birds,
>A listening room is not nature."
>Klas Strandberg
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
--
Wild Sanctuary
P. O. Box 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
t. 707-996-6677
f. 707-996-0280
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
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