In late March, I travel to Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Nebraska, about twenty miles due north of the Platte River. It is early spring and the waterfowl migration is at its peak.
Looking for recording opportunities, I home in on a long, narrow pond only ten or fifteen feet wide and perhaps a hundred feet long, with steep banks on each side. It is a waterfowl mecca, with ducks of several species excitedly swimming about while feeding. Still others streak by overhead, their wings producing loud, spine-tingling whooshes or musical whistles, or else they land with a splash.
I dare not approach the pond because the ducks will scatter and might not return. So I wait until an hour before dawn the next morning, and under the cover of darkness, I place a soundscape mic in the middle of the pool. Fortunately, no ducks are present, but at first light they begin arriving and soon the pool is churning with activity. I can only imagine what my recording will sound like…
Species to listen for:
1) Loud peeps given mostly in flight: Green-winged Teal.
2) Whistling wings while flying: Common Goldeneye.
3) Taking flight while calling chux-chux-chux: Northern Shoveler.
4) Otherworldly nasal calls (prominent at the end of the recording): Lesser Scaup.
5) Musical bird songs in the background: Western Meadowlark.
6) A loud raucous outburst followed wing flapping: Ring-necked Pheasant.
A Note from Lang:
This stunning recording was made by my dear friend and recording partner Ted Mack (now deceased) during our 6-month recording expedition way back in 1994. The above account summarizes how he described the experience to me.
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