About 6 months ago I came across the soundscape work of bioacoustician Bernie Krause on this Science Friday episode. It of course made me think about beavers and wonder whether anyone had ever tried to listen for vocalizations under water. I asked around and eventually connected with Dr. Krause through Richard Dale at the Sonoma Ecology Center. He thought it was an interesting question and said he had not heard much beaver recordings even above the water, except for tail slaps and this:
I do have a rare recording of a male beaver vocalising. A colleague of mine who has been recording at a remote lake in Minnesota for many years, was visiting his favorite springtime spot when a couple of state fish and wildlife agents hiked in and dropped a couple of sticks of dynamite into the beaver dam that was the centerpiece of an entire micro ecosystem, and the cornerstone that held the infrastructure of the lake intact, killing the female and the offspring and wounding the male. That evening, our friend managed to capture the male, swimming in circles, crying out for its mate. Saddest sound I’ve ever heard from any living being, human or otherwise.
Well the internet is an amazing thing. You can be listening to a famous researcher one day and exchange emails with them the next. And it can do this – mind you, if Bernie’s description wasn’t warning enough to the compassionate souls reading this website add mine to the list. His recording is not for the soft of heart.
All this to say that tonight Dr. Bernie Krause will be presenting his awesome soundscapes in Sonoma at the Valley of the Moon lecture series.
March 21st (Wednesday) 7:00PM-8:45PM
The Great Animal Orchestra – The Sound & The Furry
Guest Speaker: Author/Naturalist/Sound Artist Bernie Krause There is a great tuning taking place – as wilderness and wildlife continue to perform their ancient songs in our increasingly noisy world. Who is listening, and what educational and entertaining delights does this ‘music of the wild’ still contain? Find out where you fit in the chorus of life, itself! Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building – 126 First St. West, Sonoma CA 95476. For additional info, email us or call 707-939-8007.
The entire evening should be fascinating! Beaver friend and bird wizard Tom Rusert does an amazing job pulling fantastic speakers together and giving them the best possible forum. If you’re free tonight you should have dinner in the wine country with friends and go listen! Hmm….what was was the topic 11 months ago? Well, that would be the Martinez Beavers!
