Hello all,
I am an active nature sound recordist based in Boulder, Colorado with
a particular interest in birds, and I am new to the group today. One
of the projects I am pursuing this summer is an effort to record
Black Swifts (Cypseloides niger). There are a couple of us working
on this project, and we have found a few places where the birds do
not nest behind waterfalls, but rather in damp caves or other wet
recesses. Nonetheless, the sound of running water is a nearly
constant problem when recording these birds, and is the primary
reason why they have rarely been recorded (or even heard) at any of
their "usual" waterfall nesting sites.
Here is my question. I would like to create a portable screen or
barrier that I can set up to reflect and/or absorb at least some of
the sound from noisy point sources when I am recording in the
field. It would need to be lightweight and probably collapsible or
foldable, but it would also need to be durable enough for field
use. I intend to build it myself, hopefully using relatively
low-cost materials. Although the Black Swift project is the impetus
for innovation here, if I could create something convenient, I can
imagine using it frequently and in many situations.
Has anyone here attempted to create something similar? I haven't had
any luck finding references to such a thing in the archives, nor
online. I am interested in your ideas as to what kinds of materials
to use and how best to put such a thing together. Looking forward to
the discussion--
Nathan Pieplow
Boulder, CO
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