Birds and Barry

I thought that if I were taking a venture out into nature, over an hour from home, it would be cruel not to bring my newly-adopted little boy, Barry (beyond that, I was much happier to have him peeing on nature than anything in my apartment while I was gone). As it happens, Barry thinks he should eat birds. Every bird. That he sees. Ever. We have opposing viewpoints on this issue, and his arguments, what they posses in volume and persistence, lack substance.

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Kohler-Andrae Sounds from the Cordwalk

The Kohler-Andrae State Park is a testament to the wonderful beaches afforded the Upper Midwest by the glacial recession of the last ice age. Some of the world's most pristine sand is found not at South Beach or West Palm or Rio, but on the shores of Lake Michigan. Wisconsin and Michigan are among the nation's leaders in exported sand, but thanks at least to this park, we'll never see a day when we used to have the finest sand in America. Because of the ecological effects of the vast freshwater lake, these sandy dunes are actually teeming with plant life, from the hearty-rooted grasses and creeping juniper, to majestic white pine trees, which normally grow only in heavy soil. Wildlife, however, still find the sandy climate (and stream of tourists) more difficult to abide. Still, there are birds and crickets, audible even above the roaring Great Lake beyond the towering dunes.

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Walkway Waves

Farther down the cement walkway the waves crashed with greater intensity against the breakwater. At the risk of being soaked, I dangled the left channel over the edge, while letting the right channel absorb the softer residual effects from where I was sitting. This deep towards the historic red lighthouse all other sounds were neutralized--the birds and passersby all became mute. Still, there is a great depth to the waves themselves, not merely crashing upon cement, but also intersting byplay even in the lulls.

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Water at the Shoreline

It was a modestly windy day, which meant plenty of wake lapping over the rocks. For this recording, I remained stationary near the shoreline. I felt it necessary to contrast the generally calmer water at this point with the rougher waves farther down the walkway towards the lighthouse. There were several passersby, mostly middle-aged to older adults dressed somewhat formally. There was an event--perhaps a wedding--being set up in the park area, and these may have been early arrivals, come to enjoy the marina before the ceremony. They were very courteous and remained quiet while walking past, showing polite smiles, though I gladly would have captured their conversations had they been within microphone earshot.

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Beach Kids

This track was recorded at the Ontario Ave. entrance to Deland Park, as described in the map to the left. The most audible sound came from a group of children to the left of me, though I was watching another group play on the playground equipment about 100 feet in front of me. As I was listening to the sound record, I had to stifle my own laughter when I watched one young boy, no older than 6, jump 7 feet from a platform and make a 7-point landing--hands, feet, knees, and forehead--into the white sand below, then hop up and run off.

The beach itself was fairly expansive, probably 300 feet from shoreline to street, and at least two thirds of a mile long, though the constant tremor of Lake Michigan ensured the only sound I could capture would be that very close to me.

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