Hi listeners,
I, and an Ornithologist colleague http://www.pacificrimconservation.com/=C2=
=A0,=C2=A0are starting a recording project in August on the island of Lehua=
, 20 miles off Kauai--see photos at:=C2=A0
http://www.hawaiioirc.org/OIRC-ISLETS-Niihau/OIRC-ISLETS-Niihau-Lehua.htm
or=C2=A0 http://tinyurl.com/lxo6u4
=C2=A0
Lehua Islet is a restoration project which has recently been relieved of it=
s rabbits and rats, which were introduced in the last two centuries. With t=
hese aliens removed, and native plants restored, there is reason to hope th=
e island=C2=A0might regain its former wealth of nesting seabirds (as eviden=
ced by fossil remains).
I'm very excited about this project. I credit Magnus Robb and his book "Pet=
rels Night and Day" for much of the inspiration (see message 37419=C2=A0 ht=
tp://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/naturerecordists/message/37419=C2=A0 )=C2=
=A0.
We'll be on the island for a week, having been delivered by boat to swim as=
hore with all gear in waterproof bags strapped to surfboards.=C2=A0 There i=
s a WeatherPort shelter on the Island.=C2=A0Our purpose is to record sounds=
capes and individual birds, to survey the species known to be nesting there=
(at least 11 species) as well as to discover other species=C2=A0prospectin=
g for nesting opportunities. I'll set up to record all night at least 3 nig=
hts, after we determine the best sites. Most recording and listening will b=
e at night, given the seabirds' habits of arrival and departure under cover=
of darkness. Daytime recording will target nestlings and attendant adults.=
=C2=A0=C2=A0
Here is the recording gear I plan to take along, hopefully with enough back=
-up and redundancy to make it=C2=A0through the week:
=C2=A0
Recorders:
=C2=A0 Sound Devices 702
=C2=A0 Sony PCM D50
=C2=A0 Sony MZ-RH1
Microphones:
=C2=A0 Telinga Stereo
=C2=A0 SASS modified=C2=A0with MKH20's
=C2=A0 Mid-side=C2=A0set-up with MKH 30/40
=C2=A0 Senn K6/ME62 pair
=C2=A0 Hydrophones-- Aquarian Audio H2a XLR PIP, tho I may not be able to s=
afely get far enough offshore=C2=A0to escape the snapping shrimp cacophony
Other:
=C2=A0 ART Phantom II power box
=C2=A0 Sound Devices Mixpre
=C2=A0 Plenty of cable, 200', 50', and 6', plus back-up
=C2=A0 Plenty of batteries, and there is a solar charger=C2=A0at the shelte=
r
=C2=A0 Sony MDR 7506 headphones, two
=C2=A0 Adequate windscreens, I think, for all mics--this=C2=A0can be=C2=A0a=
windy place!
=C2=A0
This will likely be a rich learning experience for me, on=C2=A0a virtual=C2=
=A0desert island (no water) with no outside support once we land. Weather=
=C2=A0will be NE trade winds 10 to 15 knots and no=C2=A0rain,=C2=A0unless a=
tropical storm comes in from the southeast, which would yield a short peri=
od of light or no winds and the best recording conditions, followed by heav=
y rain.
Comments and advice welcome. In an ensuing post I'll=C2=A0ask for=C2=A0guid=
ance in use of mid-side, which is new to me.
=C2=A0
Aloha,
David
=C2=A0>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
David Kuhn
www.soundshawaiian.com
808 335 0398
Cell 808 651 8247
Mail to: PO Box 1018
Waimea, Kaua'i HI 96796
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