I have to ask, Don't we have plenty of "bear in the den" recordings?
On Jan 15, 2012, at 12:26 PM, Mark Phinney wrote:
> Well, your situation sounds different from those that I am experienced
> with. If the site (& bear) are well known and being monitored by
> scientists, and they have given you the option of making the recording,
> then the risk to the bear may be somewhat less than I initially thought.
> Odd that he can be heard from 30 ft away. Of all the 'surprise encounters=
'
> (with denned bears)I've been told about, none of the people have actually
> heard the bear beforehand...maybe they're under too much dirt & snow arou=
nd
> here. I would guess that if the bear is used to hearing people nearby, it
> may not be a big issue to creep up to the den entrance and QUICKLY &
> QUIETLY place your mic just inside the entrance, then get away. You reall=
y
> don't want to disturb the animal. That consideration should be paramount.
> The metabolic & physiological effects of waking a bear aren't the same as
> for a true hibernator, as you point out. They do wake frequently from the=
ir
> winter sleep. However, the ultimate consequences of disturbing / scaring =
a
> bear enough to actually leave it's den are significant and not good. And
> most bears that leave the winter den 'unwillingly' do not come back to
> resume their dormancy.
>
> On the bird nest topic, if you can find the nest as it's being built, you
> can give it a try as you state below. The bird may see you or your activi=
ty
> and abandon the site. Probably not much to record though...the birds will
> be quiet around the nest. There are a lot of nest predators out
> there..aside from coons & snakes - squirrels, weasels, jays, etc. Some
> follow scent signature, others use visual cues and others auditory - as
> when the parent bird scolds you when you come to check on the setup, etc.
> And if you use a long cord (recommended to avoid disturbance) the mice &
> squirrels may chew on it!
>
> Good luck, but the primary thought for all ethical nature recordists,
> photographers, etc is to avoid or minimise disturbance to the subject.
>
> Mark Phinney
>
> On Sat, Jan 14, 2012 at 8:18 PM, Eric Schmidt <> wrote:
>
> > **
> >
> >
> > Thanks Mark and Martyn,
> >
> > > Beware that black bears are not true hibernators. They can & will wak=
e
> > > up
> > > very quickly.
> >
> > Yes, I knew that they break hibernation. By very quickly do you mean
> > they wake on the slightest sound or that they can go from sleep into a
> > fully alert and conscious state rapidly. I was under the impression
> > that initially they can be expected to be somewhat "groggy". Why I'm
> > seeking some advise.
> >
> > > Aside from the potential danger to you
> >
> > Risk in everything, you do what you can to minimize it.
> >
> > > & your equipment is
> >
> > Won't be the first time I've lost equipment. Again minimize the chance
> > of it happening is all you can do.
> >
> > > the disturbance to the bear. Once disturbed & scared from the den, th=
ey
> > > generally will not go back to the same site.
> >
> > I was under the impression that they will generally go back to the same
> > den site after awakening and it's unusual but not a rarity to have them
> > wake up. I have no intention of causing an awakened bear. Correct me
> > if I'm wrong, I don't think it's as costly as having a bat roused from
> > slumber. But they shouldn't be unnecessarily disturbed.
> >
> > > Then they are left to wander
> > > at a time of year they are not meant to be out. No good food (other
> > > than
> > > human-sourced, which won't end well) and nowhere to go. I strongly
> > > advise against rousting the bear from it's winter lair.
> >
> > OK - three people are against it. I am going to pursue it further. I
> > will not make up my mind until I get over there and check out the
> > situation, den location and accessibility, and talk with the scientists
> > there. If I decide that the chances of disturbance, etc. are minimal
> > I'm going to record sound. Note: I have opted not to proceed before.
> > But this bear is known and seems like a good candidate.
> >
> > Plan would be get in set the two mics, or more with a mixer, back off
> > 150 feet, record 2 hours and leave. Come back right before I leave to
> > retrieve the mics and be gone.
> >
> > > Thus, no noisy or
> > > intrusive behaviour. a mic placed quietly on a pole and left for quit=
e
> > > some
> > > time MAY be ok, but beware it could be destroyed.
> >
> > So place the shotgun on a stand close to the hole pointing in, no
> > talking while close (I won't walk up there without at the minimum being
> > within someone's eyesight) and get in and get out as fast and quietly
> > as possible. Anything else I'm missing.
> >
> > If the hole is no longer there I won't make one.
> >
> > > flash photography is not
> > > a good option.
> >
> > I agree here, that's why I stated I can live without it. I don't know
> > how he would react to a flash and don't want to take a chance on it
> > disturbing his sleep.
> >
> > > Despite the temptation it's probably best to leave them be.
> > > A sow with cubs may produce more interesting sounds and she would be
> > > less
> > > likely to abandon the site - but more likely to eat your mic...
> >
> > From what I've been told the female's den site is more "precarious"
> > than the males and I'm not even considering visiting her.
> >
> > The male is on a university biological research station site and is
> > being observed. I'm told you can easily hear him from a trail 30 feet
> > away from the den. Haven't been there yet so don't know how close or
> > obtrusive the bear is subjected to. They like having him around so I'm
> > assuming they are giving him some space. And they are comfortable
> > enough to invite me - I've done stuff with them before. I'm given to
> > understand the trail is often used to access a study site. That's how
> > he was originally discovered.
> >
> > >
> > > The bird nest thing is a possibility. The fewer visits to the nest th=
e
> > > better, and maybe wait til the chicks have hatched.
> >
> > I was hoping to be there as the nest is being build.
> >
> > > Don't draw predator
> > > attention to the nest
> >
> > I know raccoons will associate human activity with a good chance of
> > finding a meal and even after a single visit. Have to watch it with
> > bluebird trails. But I don't know of anything else to do except get in
> > and get out and minimize the walking around doing the placement
> > activity. Anything else? Take anti-scent precautions like deer
> > hunters do?
> >
> > > and don't disturb the nest itself (setup should be
> > > cryptic),
> >
> > What do you mean cryptic? If you mean having the little mic (and I'm
> > amazed at how small it is) hidden and the cable snaked behind bark,
> > etc, I'm with you already.
> >
> > > but beware that activity like this probably does increase the
> > > likelihood of nest depredation.
> >
> > Snakes and raccoons are the two biggest concerns. Snakes won't be real
> > active yet.
> >
> > I thought nest has to be a tree nesting species with nest 5 or 6 feet
> > minimum from the ground and within reach of a smallish step-stool.
> >
> > > just my two cents. I am a wildlife biologist, but not a professional
> > > nature
> > > recordist, so others undoubtedly have more direct experience in these
> > > matters than I...
> >
> > Well, they can have experience in recording, but, hopefully, you've got
> > a leg up on behaviors, etc.
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
Danny McCarty
Monolith Media, Inc.
4183 Summit View
Hood River, Or 97031
415-331-7628
541-399-0089 Cell
http://www.monolithmedia.net/
http://www.danielmccarty.com/
http://about.me/yodmc
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