At 6:30 this morning, it was just starting to get light and I was walking Mr. Mook. I heard the spring call of a chickadee, somewhere in the woods. Since it was December, the call was such a welcome and unexpected sound that I stood there humbly for a minute. What sounds ring deep within your heart? Is it the first flock of migrating geese flying overhead; the trill of toads in early May?<\/p>\n
How I Got into Listening<\/span><\/p>\n Years ago, I set a goal to learn every animal sound within my home range. I used a sound parabola and a tape recorder. A sound parabola is a parabolic disc that magnifies the sound of an object with a microphone. I recorded the sound, identified the bird, and then replayed the sound over and over until I learned it. It didn\u2019t take long before I could walk through a forest and identify every sound I heard. How do you think it felt to be able to connect with animals, without ever seeing them?\u00a0 It was like walking through a door that did not ever exist before.<\/p>\n Why is listening important?<\/span><\/p>\n Sound is very life giving, and hearing certain types of sounds triggers deep feelings within a person’s body. For example, in the spring, when I hear the call of the first flock of Canada geese flying overhead, I feel very alive and thankful. In early November, the tundra swans migrate south at night. Their call, so high in the sky, makes me feel sad about the coming dark days of winter.\u00a0 And yet, ever so thankful to have this connection with these wanderers, who fly over and bless the land. Also, in Spring, when I hear the first rose-breasted grosbeak high in the trees, I linger as long as\u00a0I can. A grosbeak’s call is like a tonic that heals all the empty places inside me.<\/p>\n How to Get Started Listening<\/span><\/p>\n Spring is the time to start learning the spring calls. What are top six sounds you hear in the Spring?<\/p>\n From March to April, in Minnesota, the top six calls are: chickadee (\u201cfee-bee\u201d); cardinal (\u201cCheer, Cheer, Cheer\u201d); robin (melodic call); blue jay (\u201cjay, jay,); white-breasted nuthatch (\u201cpeint,peint, peint\u201d). Canada geese (honking) and chorus frogs (cricket sounds).\u00a0 Once you have learned the top six, you can branch out into some of the other common sounds: downy woodpecker, goldfinch, American toad, red-wing blackbird, or mourning dove.<\/p>\n But \u201clistening\u201d is not about \u201ccollecting\u201d sounds, it is about letting the sounds come inside you and be a part you. When you hear a chorus frog or a robin, feel the pure beauty of it, and let it ripple through your body and you will feel more alive. As each year passes, the calls of birds and frogs have a deeper meaning. Here in Minnesota, we are going into winter, a time when there is very little natural sound. I am already looking forward to hearing the beautiful call of a robin singing from the trees.<\/p>\n What experiences with sound are in your heart? Share a comment, so others can enjoy it too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At 6:30 this morning, it was just starting to get light and I was walking Mr. Mook. I heard the spring call of a chickadee, somewhere in the woods. Since it was December, the call was such a welcome and … Continue reading