About a month ago Frankie Loscavio and I took a walk out into the woods one nice night to record some ambiance. On the way out there, before the eyes have adjusted to the darkness, you expect something to jump out and bite your feet off. Because we live in an urban jungle, many sounds are unfamiliar, and you get a shiver down your spine every time a tree creaks or a limb falls. Once the eyes had adjusted to the unsettling darkness, your nerves calm just a bit, but you are still a little on edge.
We set up our field recorders and began to record the barrage of crickets and frogs that inhabit the woods around us. Here is a snippet of what we got:
Forest Ambiance by Googe
After recording for a while we decided to head further in. We walked for a ways and came upon a spot that seemed completed void of insect life. The only thing we heard was the sound of the breeze through the trees. We stopped to start recording again. As soon as we hit "record" a lone cricket began to play us his melody. Whether it was welcoming us to its domain or cursing at us for intruding upon its home, I can not say. It was beautiful nonetheless and I felt honored to be chosen to be serenaded by this majestic insect.
Quiet Forest Single Cricket by Googe
On the way back to the car I began to ponder on why urbanites get that tiny fear that something is going to grab them while in the darkness of the woods. Perhaps it is from watching movies of people wondering into the woods and confronted by a creature of some sort, or hearing stories of people disappearing into the forest to never be heard from again. Whatever it is, it is silly to be so afraid (being cautious is different) of something so harmless. The forests are not there to harm us, most of the time they are welcoming us, and the creatures within only wish to be left to themselves.
Upon reaching the edge of the woods we noticed that there was water dripping into the stream under a bridge. We made our way under the bridge where it was almost pitch black, which brought on another feeling of caution that something was going to grab my ankles and pull me into the depths of hades. We set our recorders once again and began recording. This recording is one of my favorites that we have captured. It feels so peaceful, despite the way I felt when we entered the area.
Water Under Bridge forest Ambiance by Googe
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