Natural Soundscapes
JB: This is Earth and Sky. Most people who visit national parks go to look . . .
DB: But scientists at the National Park Service are beginning to focus on protecting an invisible resource – the natural “soundscape” – or sounds of nature. For many, the sounds of the wilderness create a sense of peace and solitude. But they’re important to a healthy ecosystem, too. For example, animals use sound to communicate with each other, find mates, and locate their offspring.
JB: There’s even a word to describe the combined sound that living organisms produce in a given habitat . . . it’s “biophony.” When airplanes, snowmobiles, or other loud disturbances interrupt them, these important lines of animal communication can be cut. Air tours are becoming increasingly popular in parks like the Grand Canyon and Hawaii Volcanoes . . .
DB: The Park Service is wondering how much they need to regulate that kind of activity for the sake of the wildlife. That’s why they’re beginning to document the normal range of noises in national parks. They’re recording sounds in undisturbed places and putting together a database of sound levels and frequencies from a variety of natural areas.
JB: By the way, we have more about natural sound conservation on our website – which you can find at earthsky.org. Thanks today to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.
More info:
Author’s Notes:
The National Park Service recommends “10 Simple Ways to Enjoy Natural Sound” for kids or grown-up people:
1. Sound Sense: Stop. Listen to what’s around you. Now close your eyes. Do you hear other sounds? Do you hear more with your eyes closed?
2. Sound Count: Close your eyes. Lift a finger for each sound you hear. Can you hear 10 different sounds? Now use your left hand for natural sounds and your right hand for human-made sounds. Lift a finger for each type of sound you hear. Which type of sound reaches five first?
3. Sound Walk: Walk and listen. Do you hear your footsteps? Do you hear your clothes rustle? Can you walk without making any sound?
4. Sound Draw: Take a moment to hear one sound around you. Use you finger to draw the sound in the air. Have a friend guess the sound.
5. Sound Pleasure: What is the most beautiful sound you hear? What is the ugliest?
6. Wind Blown: Try to hear the wind blowing through different plants.
7. Water Sounds: Find a stream or waterfall and listen carefully with your eyes shut until the sound separates into single notes.
8. Landscape Listening: How does the shape of the land affect the way sound travels to your ear? Where is the source of each sound? Are there any echoes? What is the closest sound you hear?
9: Walk in the Wild: Walk as though a predator were after you. Walk as though you were a predator.
10. Animal Chat: Listen for an animal. What sound does the animal make? Can you make its sound? Can you communicate with the animal?
Other Sound Activities
Sound Tally: Keep a tally of every kind of sound you hear on your walk. What do you hear most?
Sound Language: Find a sound you like. How would you spell that sound on paper?
Sound Size: Listen around you. Do you hear movement in a bush or tree? Can you guess the size of the animal based on the sound it makes?
Silent Sound Signals: Develop some silent hand signals to communicate with others.
The following people were interviewed for today’s program. Our thanks to:
Chris Shaver
Chief Air Resources Division
National Park Service
Denver, CO
Skip Ambrose
Bio-acoustician
National Park Service
Fort Collins, CO
Additional Teacher Resources
U.S. National Park Service; NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program: The Analysis and Protection of the Natural Soundscape in National Parks
This in-depth report defines “natural soundscape” and “biophony” in terms of a National Park Service protected natural resource. It explores the importance of this natural resource, as well as the threats to its existence and the steps being made towards conservation.
U.S. National Park Service: NPS Wilderness
This site contains audio files of various examples of wilderness soundscapes from National Parks all over the country.
