Sounds of Whitefish Point: Storm Waves on Lake Superior
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Whitefish Point is in Chippewa County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (U.P.) It is home to the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. The area is popular for birding, rock hunting, beach walking and ship watching. It is also the home of a former United States Coast Guard station. On the days I visited, rain storms greeted me and regaled me with impressive wind, amazing cloud formations and giant crashing waves you will get to hear in this episode.
Based on listening stats for this podcast, you love episodes that feature beaches and waves. I mean, you really love them. Those episodes outperform all others by 40%. So if you are a person who loves listening to waves (me included!) then I think this episode is especially for you. There is science to suggest that listening to sounds of the beach can lower stress, ease anxiety and aid in sleeping, so let’s get to it, shall we? : )
My goal in visiting Whitefish Point was to observe and record birds that use the area around the observatory as a rest and fuel source during their fall migration. Whitefish Point is a designated “Important Bird Area” by BirdLife International because of its unique geographical terrain that creates a natural corridor for migrating birds. A dedicated team of volunteers and scientists has observed and identified at Whitefish Point nearly 350 species of birds.
I spent several hours here over a couple of days, but the wind and rain effectively ruined any chances of capturing bird sounds. The area is amazing and I can’t wait to go back in the spring, but I could record the waves crashing on to the shore from a massive north wind. The difference in wave action between Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is notable and sometimes quite drastic. Lake Michigan has a wave frequency that is quicker and less intense than Lake Superior.
Oh, one more thing…… We won’t be changing this podcast to ‘Wassom’s Waves - all waves, all the time’ (said in my best radio announcer voice). But I live in a state where you are only a few miles from a body of water at any location. Water is everywhere, but I strive for variety and diversity in my recordings. I will continue going into the woods and fields to find great nature sounds for us to enjoy. I will continue to search for the most elusive wildlife because I think their sounds need to be preserved for future generations. And, yes, I will continue to plop down on a beach and let my recorder run for hours.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and hope you enjoy this episode. Thanks again for your continued support!
Recording Summary:
Date and Time: 9/14/2022 | 9:30 AM
Location: Chippewa County, Michigan, USA
Landscape/Feature: Beach located in and around the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
Conditions: Raining, Thunderstorms, Gusting Winds
Recording Device: Zoom F6 Field Recorder
Microphone(s): Audio Technica BP 4025
Digital Audio Workstation: Adobe Audition
