Mar 4th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
To make the best nature recordings we use a customised microphone setup.
We utilise a SASS, or Stereo Ambient Sampling System, to capture the directional relationships between sounds in the landscape, giving a lovely stereo field and deep sense of space.
Mar 4th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
I have been recording nature sounds professionally since 1993.
I recall that when I was about 10 years old, a friend and I went off to a local park armed with a cheap portable cassette recorder. We managed to record a Wattlebird screeching from a few yards away and returned with much excitement to listen to this distorted squawk lost amidst a sea of tape hiss. I can’t recall being inspired to a career by this experience, so I’ll put it down to one of the adventures of childhood.
Needless to say, nature recording these days is a little more sophisticated…
Feb 14th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
Summer Frog Chorus, featuring Pobblebonks, Marsh Frogs and Crinias by Listening Earth
After 11 years of deep drought in southern Australia, we have finally had record-breaking rains, and the landscape is coming back to life.
Feb 14th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
Australian bush summer dawn chorus by Listening Earth
It is getting on for late summer, and the dawn chorus around our home is thinning out – it is still rich, but not as diverse or layered as even a few weeks ago.
Feb 7th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
In recent years, we have occasionally seen Square-tailed Kites cruising over the forest around our home. This has captured our attention because not only are they rare birds for our area, but they’re magnificent and graceful on the wing; quite large raptors with long wings, distinctly fingered primaries, and pale heads.
Feb 3rd, 2011 by Sarah Koschak
Although our work is about all things natural, I thought I would share a few of my ‘people’ images. These images were taken in 2006 during our last trip to India.
A woman from the small village of Manmad, Maharashtra - fierce, open and cheeky!
Feb 2nd, 2011 by Sarah Koschak
The Jewel and the Golden Orb spiders are two of the more common we have in the forest out the back of our place.
The last couple of weeks the bush has been booby trapped with their webs – when I have been walking or bike riding I often come back veiled in cobwebs.
So, in the cool of the morning I was out with my camera to photograph them as they lay in wait for their prey.
Jewel Spider
Jan 26th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
Robin on my Microphone by Listening Earth
Often I leave my microphones ambiently recording in the forest, mounted on a tripod. I go off exploring, leaving the mics and the birdlife alone for a while.
It is only later when I listen back to the recording that I find out what adventures my microphones have had while I’ve been away.
Jan 18th, 2011 by andrew skeoch
Pied Butcherbird singing at dawn, Darwin, NT by Listening Earth
We recently received an email from a listener asking whether we had any recordings of Pied Butcherbirds from ‘up north’.
Dec 13th, 2010 by andrew skeoch
Saraband for a Butcherbird – Mark de Brito by Listening Earth
Transcribing birdsong to musical notation is problematic, if not well-nigh impossible. Birdsong is just too sonically complex.
However the songs of some species do lend themselves to musical interpretation, and the sublime melodic phrases of Australia’s Pied Butcherbird have long fascinated musicians.
