Dawn Chorus at Sleeping Bear Dunes

Written By Darrin Wassom

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Quick Note: You will hear some artificial noises in this recording, but they are few and I don’t feel they detract from the recording. It is becoming increasingly difficult to record pristine audio without driving hundreds of miles and spending countless hours in its pursuit. I realize it is perhaps better to include the artificial sounds and recognize that we live in a society where noise pollution exists. I am a perfectionist for my work and I struggle on where to draw the line and release a recording. To maintain my sanity, I have to learn to be okay with imperfect recordings and some noise pollution. I hope you will understand. 

We have made it through the third winter here in Michigan and have started on the second spring. We also made a jump to first summer, but it was very short-lived. It can be very hard to define seasons here because it can change so quickly, but it does really feel like a spring that is going to actually get us to summer. 

One thing I look forward most as the snow melts and the flowers start blooming is the return of the dawn chorus. This natural phenomenon occurs in the early morning and is a collective singing of birds as they welcome the start of a new day. During the dawn chorus, birds sing to defend their territories, attract mates, and communicate with their flock. The chorus begins just before the first light of dawn and can last for several hours, with different species of birds joining in at differing times. It truly is one of the most beautiful sound collective that exists in nature. 

The Binaural Audio Recording Kit from SR3D Binaural Microphones

I recently received a new recording kit from SR3D Binaural Microphones in the UK to test out and share my thoughts. I will have a separate post and video about this kit and my thoughts on it in the coming weeks. Binaural recording is an advanced method of capturing audio that closely replicates human auditory perception by utilizing two microphones configured in that mimics the human head. While listening to binaural recordings through headphones, the listener is immersed in a lifelike environment, such as the dawn chorus in the middle of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The biggest advantage, in my experience, is the heightened level of auditory realism. In short, you will feel you are in the middle of the action. 

Knowing I wanted to test out the realistic recording effects of this kit, I went to one of my favorite recording locations to capture the dawn chorus. Over the course of a few hours, I heard and saw at least 13 different species to include the usual suspects like the American Robin and Red-winged blackbird, but I recorded some firsts for me. It was my first time recording a Bald Eagle and a Virginia Rail. I won’t spoil the entire recording and would love to hear what species you heard while listening. 

Recording Details:

Darrin Wassom
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Sounds of Sleeping Bear Dunes: High Noon at the Boekeloo Lodge
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Lake Michigan Waves: A Meditative Experience