I only work from base-line data, John. And since I am concentrating
mostly on entire soundscapes, no collective iteration is absolutely
repeatable. Nor is it expected to be so. However, factoring in
weather, climactic conditions, changes in vegetation, geology, etc.,
etc., etc., models of biophony will tend to fall within a range of
what Stuart Gage (Michigan State University's Environsonics Lab)
refers to as a state of dynamic equilibrium.
Bernie
On Jun 21, 2009, at 12:37 AM, John Hartog wrote:
>
>
> Hi Bernie,
> The difference in density between freshwater and saltwater might
> affect timbre slightly, though I have not tried to discern.
> Besides density, most of the "permutations" you mention are
> dependent on climatic variables that will affect sound signatures in
> complex and temporal ways, making some locations highly audibly
> distinctive through time while washing out the distinctiveness of
> other locations. Even beach rake (profile) can be a highly temporal
> variable, changing season to season or over multi-year cycles.
>
> Bernie, how do you determine what references are known and
> repeatable, especially if you are recording a location for the very
> first time?
>
> John Hartog
>
> --- In Bernie Krause <>
> wrote:
> >
> > Wave intensity and periodicity also timbre, John. All different at
> > each site. Since 1979, all my recordings are calibrated to known and
> > repeatable references so I've got a base-line reference and
> something
> > to compare to. I haven't "studied" this phenomenon. And there are so
> > many permutations (air temperature, wind, swells, wave height,
> > current, beach rake, salinity, and so many other factors) that it
> > would be great fun to get a better handle on what may well be
> > something else to note in our lovely sonosphere. My guess is that
> > Coney Island is as distinctive as the beach at Big Sur.
> >
> > Bernie
> >
> >
> > On Jun 20, 2009, at 7:35 PM, John Hartog wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Bernie,
> > >
> > > First you compare different aspects of each location -
> (geophysical)
> > > freshwater waves to (ecological) saltwater coastal habitat,
> which is
> > > a little confusing. But it seems you are suggesting the physical
> > > differences between fresh and salt water also result in unique
> sound
> > > signatures. Biological aside, given two beaches of similar
> > > composition and profile, one saltwater and the other freshwater,
> > > what specific differences might one expect to hear?
> > >
> > > John Hartog
> > >
> > > --- In Bernie Krause <chirp@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Lovely shots and clips, Curt. What is especially remarkable is
> the
> > > > distinctive ambience of fresh water waves as compared to those
> of
> > > salt
> > > > water coastal habitats. The periodicity of the waves (fresh
> water or
> > > > salt - storm or calm) is always unique, as are the pitch and
> timbre.
> > > > When comparing sites, it is even possible to anticipate the
> > > soundscape
> > > > from the rake of beaches. The signatures from each site are
> clearly
> > > > incomparable.
> > > >
> > > > I can't help with the bird ID, though.
> > > >
> > > > Bernie
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Jun 20, 2009, at 12:34 PM, Curt Olson wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Folks,
> > > > >
> > > > > About a month ago, I was making a shoreline recording at a
> > > sheltered
> > > > > bay on the North Shore of Lake Superior. The place is called
> > > Pebble
> > > > > Beach, the location for most of the classic photos of Split
> Rock
> > > > > Lighthouse, an historic Minnesota icon.
> > > > >
> > > > > Here's my own version of the classic/cliche photo, taken last
> > > summer:
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.trackseventeen.com/images/DSCF3552_2.jpg
> > > > >
> > > > > Here's another view of the bay, taken the day of my
> recording last
> > > > > month, from shore off the left side of the photo above:
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.trackseventeen.com/images/DSCF4695_2.jpg
> > > > >
> > > > > While I was recording, a smallish bird of prey swooped into
> view
> > > and
> > > > > landed in a tree branch about 20 feet above my mic rig. It
> perched
> > > > > there for a minute or so, then flew down and landed on the
> pebbles
> > > > > about 20 feet in front of my mics. I didn't have binoculars
> with
> > > me,
> > > > > so I don't have much detail to work with. This bird was
> slightly
> > > > > smaller than a crow. It did not seem to perch straight up
> and down
> > > > > like a buteo, but rather slightly forward. After checking my
> bird
> > > > > books, my best guess is that it might have been a Merlin.
> Here's a
> > > > > 3:05 segment of the recording. Does it's call give any clues?
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.trackseventeen.com/soundblog/x090507c-pebble_beach.mp3
> > > > >
> > > > > Some of the background sounds in this clip include a 2-3' surf
> > > hitting
> > > > > rocks a couple hundred yards away, toward the right, and some
> > > gusty
> > > > > winds in the surrounding cedar and pine trees. (Unfortunately,
> > > you can
> > > > > also hear some wind disturbance in my mics.) And there might
> be
> > > some
> > > > > rumble from a heavily used state highway about 1/4 mile back
> > > from the
> > > > > lake.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thank you in advance for any input on this!
> > > > >
> > > > > Curt Olson
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Wild Sanctuary
> > > > POB 536
> > > > Glen Ellen, CA 95442
> > > > 707-996-6677
> > > > http://www.wildsanctuary.com
> > > > chirp@
> > > > Google Earth zooms: http://earth.wildsanctuary.com
> > > > SKYPE: biophony
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Wild Sanctuary
> > POB 536
> > Glen Ellen, CA 95442
> > 707-996-6677
> > http://www.wildsanctuary.com
> >
> > Google Earth zooms: http://earth.wildsanctuary.com
> > SKYPE: biophony
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
Wild Sanctuary
POB 536
Glen Ellen, CA 95442
707-996-6677
http://www.wildsanctuary.com
Google Earth zooms: http://earth.wildsanctuary.com
SKYPE: biophony
|
