I concur. However, the problem we've seen/heard/recorded/studied,
Paul, is that the biophonic component of the soundscape is made up of
a delicate balance (referred to as dynamic equilibrium) of critter
voices (mammal, bird, insect, amphibian, reptilian, etc) that occur
at given times of day and night and under a range of climactic
conditions. When any of these elements goes missing, the bioacoustic
balance is offset and, it is thought, that this change is reflected
in the collective vocal behavior and expression of the critters that
remain. It's really very complex and subtle, but the information
contained is absolutely gemane to an understanding of the health of
biomes equitorial or temperate.
Take a camera (video or still) and one can frame a shot on the Rio
Napo that "looks" absolutely pristine and untouched. But the eye
deceives even with critter counting. Stick a mic out there and the
story is profoundly different. We've experienced this time and time
again. That's why this kind of bioacoustic approach is seminal to the
effort...assuming that there's anything left in terms of good
base-line data to record in the first place.
BK
>At 07:06 30-10-05 -0800, you wrote:
>>
>>Hi Martyn,
>>
>>Recorded last year in the Galapagos (where I finished a soundscape
>>CD), and in and around the Rio Napo on the eastern side of the Andes.
>>The latter was more disappointing because of habitat incursion
>>(deforestation mostly oil drilling) and because so much of the
>>dynamic equilibrium of the critter mix has been greatly compromised.
>>So it is VERY difficult to find places where the biophonic indicators
>>do not reveal themselves as seriously stressed. Last year I found
>>none despite marching way off into the jungle alone. While recording
>>is possible, the results are not convincing. Most obvious, the
>>monkeys were gone (poached), as well as other four-legged critters
>>for the same reason. And a pall of smoke lies over the canopy each
>>morning as more and more forest is slashed and burned. Not a hopeful
>>scenario. For those who wish more insight into the problem in
>>Ecuador, read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" by John Perkins.
>
>
>Bernie,
>
>While indeed monkey densities are low in a many areas due to hunting by th=
e
>locals, one can still tape wonderful bird choruses in the Ecuadorian
>Amazon. If one wants to get away from areas affected by oil exploitation
>there is for instance Kapawi lodge on the Pastaza. But even at e.g. La
>Selva, not too far from where oil people are, one still finds Squirrel
>Monkeys, capuchins, Dusky Titis and howlers.
>
>Which locality did you visit?
>
>Cheers, Paul
>
>
>
>
>"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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