From my spring trip out west. On April 25 I recorded at a mining pit on
Warm Springs Canyon Road, a 4x4 road that climbs west out of the valley,
mostly up a rocky wash. The abandoned mining pit was about 100 yards
across, and had a small pond of water in it, so I camped there, setting
up the SASS/MKH-20 on the edge of the pit in the evening, about 100'
from the truck. I did not use my tall tower as I felt it was not safe in
the breeze on the edge of the drop-off, so I used my photo tripod. There
were no night sounds worth recording. In the morning, starting at 5:20
AM I recorded the activity, laying in bed with headphones on. I recorded
a entire 80 min minidisc in 4 - 20 minute segments over the next two
hours. Recorder is my HHb Portadisc.
Photos:
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/Mining_Pit-1.jpg
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/Mining_Pit-2.jpg
Sound Clips in order by time:
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/2005-W4-001-C1.mp3
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/2005-W4-001-C2.mp3
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/2005-W4-002-C3.mp3
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/2005-W4-003-C4.mp3
http://madranis.home.mindspring.com/2005-W4-004-C5.mp3
Note this is all natural noise, except for the very distant rock drill
in the last couple clips. There was a brisk breeze, the mic was somewhat
protected in it's location, but there is quite a bit of noise from the
breeze. Because of all the large rock surfaces, there is a fair amount
of echo too. The place sounded like it recorded. The size of the pit was
a reach for the SASS, but it's wide coverage was valuable.
I'll not pretend to know all the calls, and any ID's would be
appreciated. So much for Death Valley being a lifeless place.
Walt
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