I really enjoyed this Curt (you've had the i.d. confirmation), Ravens
are one of my favorites here in the Swiss mountains. Spring arrived
here about 10 days ago with longer days and slightly elevated
temperatures and a few things are singing, but we've had a lot of snow
(and more to come apparently - after 10 years a 'normal' winter !) so
cannot easily get up to the altitude of Raven habitat just yet (at
least in places quiet enough to record). I hope later on this year I
can post some European wing whistles and "purruks" from this beast
which seems to sound the same all over the globe, but never thought of
it saying 'bark' before! I had great images in my head as I listened,
as we get the occasional dog sled race here too. Thanks.
Chris
--- In Curt Olson <> wrote:
>
> About a month ago I spent a few days chasing dog teams during the 2009 =
> John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon -- 374 miles from Duluth, Minnesota =
> to the Canadian border and back again. Temps were sub-zero (F) most of =
> the time, but my AT3032s worked perfectly. The dual challenge I had
> was keeping my batteries warm while recording outdoors for hours at a =
> time, and keeping my mics cold while traveling between checkpoints.
> Thankfully, I managed to do both.
>
> On day three, after most of the field had dropped out, I was out on
> the west end of Devil Track Lake (12 miles or so up the Gunflint Trail =
> from Grand Marais, MN), about 1/2 mile from shore. It was just past
> noon. Temp was only slightly above zero (F), winds were about 10 mph
> from the southwest. Sun was shining brightly. Those few tough mushers =
> who remained in the race were beginning their down-bound run back to
> Duluth after resting a few hours from a long night of mushing that
> took them all the way to Gunflint Lake on the international border in =
> -30 degree cold.
>
> Is this getting too far off topic for you? Please hang on for another =
> sentence or two.
>
> I set up my recording gear out on the lake ice, near the marked race
> trail, and walked a couple hundred yards in the direction from which
> the teams would be coming. After a long wait, the first musher
> approached, his dogs barked when they saw me. We waved to each other. =
> Little did I know, but at that exact time, a large bird flew right
> over my mic rig. I presume it was a raven, as it seemed to react to
> the dogs barking -- almost mimicking them.
>
> Can anyone confirm this for me, or steer me toward a more accurate ID?
>
> http://www.trackseventeen.com/soundblog/xq090127b-stetson_pass.mp3
>
> -or-
>
> http://tinyurl.com/dcxojo
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
> Curt Olson
>
> PS: For anyone who might be interested, I have a few other quick-and-
> dirty clips from the race at:
>
> http://www.trackseventeen.com/media/beargrease/
>
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