Music of Nature Podcast

Lang Elliott

Hi Friends! I am a professional nature recordist who travels to wild areas throughout North America and sometimes beyond. My current focus is to gather immersive binaural 3D soundscapes that effortlessly transport listeners (using headphones) into nature and have a positive and healing effect on the mind, body and spirit.

  1. Jun 30

    Atlantic Puffin Snorefest

    Puffin Snorefest. 22 July 1994, 8am, Great Island, Witless Bay Ecological Reserve, Newfoundland. Recorded by Lang Elliott. In late July, I accompany two researchers to Great Island, a protected seabird sanctuary in Newfoundland’s Witless Bay. The island is the home to over 250,000 nesting Atlantic Puffins and the primary goal of my visit is to record their unusual buzzy snores, which sound like miniature chainsaws. This is not an easy project. The puffins nest in burrows in fragile grassy areas on steep slopes at the edges of sheer cliffs that drop straight down to the ocean. One slip and I might tumble headlong over the cliff and fall a hundred or more feet to the rocky shoreline below. To settle my nerves, I observe the puffins from a distance using binoculars and choose what looks like a good spot in front of a well-used burrow to place my microphone. Then I make my way to that location, causing many puffins to take flight. I step very carefully so as not to crush burrows or inhabitants hidden within. I place my microphone and then run nearly five hundred feet of audio cable back to our little research hut higher up the slope. From there, I patiently monitor the action through headphones. As expected, the puffins quickly return and soon there is a lot of vocalizing. What’s more, one puffin is very close to my microphone, standing at the entrance to its burrow and making for an exciting soundscape. All hail the Atlantic Puffin and its buzzy snoring call!

    Atlantic Puffin Snorefest

  2. Jun 26

    Spotted Owl & Gently Splashing Waterfall

    4/28/21 around midnight, Turkey Creek, Aravaipa Canyon near Klondyde AZ. NOTE: This is a ambient binaural soundscape; please listen with headphones! During a late April visit to the magical Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area in southeastern Arizona, I make my way to a remote side canyon where I camp under a large Cottonwood tree next to a small, gently splashing waterfall. The moon is full and a light fog hovers over the canyon. Around midnight, I am awakened by the distant melodic hoots of a Mexican Spotted Owl … hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo-oh. I also notice the sweet up-slurred whistles of a fledgling, presumably anticipating a tasty treat. The exchange continues for several minutes until another owl arrives and delivers the meal. The fledgling squeals with delight and then settles down. Serenaded by the fledgling’s whistles and the very distant hoots of one of the adults, I soon fall back asleep. A Note from Lang: This is perhaps my favorite Spotted Owl soundscape. While I have many close-up recordings of the species, I prefer this gentle ambient rendition because it invites the listener into the multidimensional listening experience itself … the sounds of the owls set against the spacious drippy splashes of the waterfall and the whooshy rush of the stream that drains the falls. And all this happens within the sheltered walls of a narrow desert canyon, with a full moon piercing the fog and illuminating the cottonwood, so freshly leafed and towering above.

    Spotted Owl & Gently Splashing Waterfall

  3. Jun 20

    Calming Crickets and Forest Drip

    Calming Crickets and Forest Drip - 25 September 2017, 1am, Shindagin Hollow near Brooktondale, New York. Recorded by Lang Elliott. As autumn begins revealing its colors, there is still a pleasing insect chorus at night in the forested hills of upstate New York. In late September, after an evening thunderstorm passes through the area, I visit nearby Shindagin Hollow in search of soothing meditative nightscapes. Well after midnight, the sky clears. A half-moon illuminates the forest, gently filtered through light fog. I stand silently next to a small ravine. Leaves are wet and dripping steadily. Tree crickets trill from all directions and spring peepers call sporadically, even though their breeding season is long passed. At times, a barred owl hoots from far in the distance, barely audible. I feel fully embraced by this lovely, nurturing soundscape. There is nothing to analyze, nothing to think about, nothing to hold on to. There is only a sense of deep immersion, complete surrender, and effortless communion with this extraordinary place and time.

    Calming Crickets and Forest Drip

  4. Jun 14

    Olympic Thrush Tones

    In late June, I visit Olympic National Park and camp near Ozette Lake in the Olympic Peninsula. At the break of dawn, I amble along a trail leading to the Pacific Ocean and encounter an exciting constellation of sounds. Against a backdrop of subtle gurgles from a small stream and the gentle whoosh of a light breeze, two varied thrushes sing loudly from tall hemlocks while others sound off in the distance. Their vibrant, buzzy notes electrify the air. From the understory, a Swainson’s thrush sings prominently, its melodic flute-like notes sliding upward in pitch. A pileated woodpecker drums occasionally far in the distance. A band-tailed pigeon also chimes in, its hollow low-pitched coo-coo, coo-coo adding a pleasing musical element to the low end. And then, to top things off, a Pacific winter wren suddenly bursts forth with its high-pitched, liquid ramble exhilarating the mix.\ I rest against the trunk of a towering tree and take in this exquisite blend of sounds—a veritable audio fingerprint of the ancient old growth forests of the Pacific Northwest. Olympic Thrush-Tones - 23 June 2017, at dawn, near Ozette Lake, Olympic National Park, Washington. © by Lang Elliott, musicofnature.com

    Olympic Thrush Tones

  5. May 30

    Muskrats Nattering

    Muskrats Nattering. 31 August 2020, around 3am, Teeter Pond, Finger Lakes National Forest near Valois, New York. © Lang Elliott. In early autumn, I camp along the shore of Teeter Pond in the Finger Lakes National Forest in upstate New York. That night, crickets trill melodiously and katydids rasp their harsh chee-chee from the surrounding forest. In the wee hours of the morning, I awaken to whimpering notes and squeals, accompanied at times by water splashes. These are the sweet, endearing calls of muskrats. Listening carefully, I conclude that it’s a pair, sounding off as they swim along the marshy shoreline. The entire soundscape is pleasing, a soothing mix of insect songs, occasional frog calls, distant cattle mooing and bellowing, and, of course, the uplifting calls of the fun-loving mammals (I could be wrong here, but they sure do sound like they’re having fun). What could be finer than enjoying the nattering of muskrats as they slowly swim by, finally vanishing into the night? I take a long, deep breath and then gently drift back into sleep.

    Muskrats Nattering

  6. May 23

    Spine-Tingling Duck Wing Whooshes and Whistles

    25 March 1994, 8am, Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska. Recording © Lang Elliott. In late March, I travel to Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Nebraska, about twenty miles due north of the Platte River. It is early spring and the waterfowl migration is at its peak. Looking for recording opportunities, I home in on a long, narrow pond only ten or fifteen feet wide and perhaps a hundred feet long, with steep banks on each side. It is a waterfowl mecca, with ducks of several species excitedly swimming about while feeding. Still others streak by overhead, their wings producing loud, spine-tingling whooshes or musical whistles, or else they land with a splash. I dare not approach the pond because the ducks will scatter and might not return. So I wait until an hour before dawn the next morning, and under the cover of darkness, I place a soundscape mic in the middle of the pool. Fortunately, no ducks are present, but at first light they begin arriving and soon the pool is churning with activity. I can only imagine what my recording will sound like… Species to listen for: 1) Loud peeps given mostly in flight: Green-winged Teal. 2) Whistling wings while flying: Common Goldeneye. 3) Taking flight while calling chux-chux-chux: Northern Shoveler. 4) Otherworldly nasal calls (prominent at the end of the recording): Lesser Scaup. 5) Musical bird songs in the background: Western Meadowlark. 6) A loud raucous outburst followed wing flapping: Ring-necked Pheasant. A Note from Lang: This stunning recording was made by my dear friend and recording partner Ted Mack (now deceased) during our 6-month recording expedition way back in 1994. The above account summarizes how he described the experience to me.

    Spine-Tingling Duck Wing Whooshes and Whistles

  7. Apr 23

    Veery at Dusk

    June 6, 2021, 8:30pm, Cayuta Lake Outlet, Gulf Road, near Alpine, New York © Lang Elliott, musicofnature.com A lovely binaural soundscape-portrait of a Veery thrush singing and calling at dusk with the relaxing gurgle of a small waterfall to one side, the soft rush of a brook to the other, and various subtle bird songs in the background.

    Veery at Dusk

  8. Apr 5

    Prairie Riparian Mystery Sound

    May 24, 2024, Buffalo Camp, American Prairie Preserve east of Zortman, Montana. © Lang Elliott. The most exciting section is near the end, from 3:35-4:00. CAN ANYONE HELP ME IDENTIFY THE MYSTERY SOUND-MAKER? My semi-educated guesses: How about Porcupine? I recorded this rather amazing mystery sound made by an unknown animal (presumably a mammal) in the American Prairie Preserve in Montana. At dusk, I set my microphone near the edge of Second Creek (47.7599103,-107.777872), just south of the Buffalo Camp campground. This unusual sound event occurred not long after midnight. Also evident are the loud song-phrases of a Yellow-breasted Chat, a common nighttime singer. Listen also for the hooting (and moans?) of Long-eared Owls in the background. NEWS FLASH: After some online sleuthing, I am now certain this is indeed a Porcupine. I found a great reference video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpDtSjyTC6I

    Prairie Riparian Mystery Sound
See All (38)

5
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

Hi Friends! I am a professional nature recordist who travels to wild areas throughout North America and sometimes beyond. My current focus is to gather immersive binaural 3D soundscapes that effortlessly transport listeners (using headphones) into nature and have a positive and healing effect on the mind, body and spirit.

Information

  • Creator
    Lang Elliott
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Music of Nature Podcast

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