The Language and Music of the Wolves

The Language and Music of the Wolves

I missed last Sunday's nature/environmental sounds post. Didn't mean to do that. I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. I decided to post something other than bird songs this Sunday. Hope this is educational as our foolish government thinks it's okay to shoot wolves again so they could go back on the verge of extinction.

From the liner notes:

The actual language and music of the Wolf recorded in his remaining territories. And the true explanation of the Wolf and Man, narrated by Robert Redford, actor and nature lover. (Another project of Natural History Magazine)

Some slightly technical information:

The wolf howl is a long, low, mournful sound. It is continuous - from about half a second to 11 seconds in length. It consists of a fundamental frequency, between 150 and 780 cycles per second, and contains up to 12 harmonically related overtones. The pitch remains constant or varies smoothly, and may change direction as many as four or five times. Total intensity does not vary greatly throughout. Yet there is much variation in the howling of different wolves.The following howls were recorded in Ontario, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Robert Redford narrates The Wolf You Never Knew {14:25}

Side 2

1. Sounds of the Wolf: Opening Howl {1:07}

2. Sounds of the Wolf: First Growls {1:28}

3. Sounds of the Wolf: Pup Howls {1:26}

4. Sounds of the Wolf: Wolf Barking {1:15}

5. Sounds of the Wolf: Series of 3 Adjacent Single Howls {2:12}

6. Sounds of the Wolf: Comparative Difference in Howls {0:50}

7. Sounds of the Wolf: Single Howls {0:54}

8. Sounds of the Wolf: Combined Sounds of the Wolf {1:17}

9. Sounds of the Wolf: Distant and Close-up Howling {1:54}

10. Sounds of the Wolf: Series of Group Howls {4:14}

11. Sounds of the Wolf: Joint Group Howl {3:00}

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Wolf Talk

NorthSound - Wolf Talk

This recording consists of sounds of the wolves mixed with bird calls and water sounds. There are two lengthy tracks that make up the two parts of Wolf Talk:

Part 1: You'll hear the calls and howls of wolves and the sounds of the following guest speakers: spring peepers, wood frogs, crow, barred owl, red-winged blackbirds, blue jay, chickadees, nuthatches, and one great horned owl.

Part 2: As a rainstorm passes, the wolves continue to converse. White-throated sparrows, a blue jay, a crow, and red-winged blackbirds contribute to the discussion.

The result of numerous trips following and recording the eastern timber wolf of North America, Wolf Talk brings you all the voices of this exceptional animal in its natural environment. Whether it's the haunting vocalizations and lonesome call of the solitary wolf, the spine-tingling howls of a pack in chorus, or the "bark-howling" cries of pre-chorusing wolves, these primeval sounds reflect the true "call of the wild."

Tracklisting:

1. Wolf Talk Part 1 {28:55}

2. Wolf Talk Part 2 {24:51}

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Solitudes Volume Six

Dan Gibson - Solitudes Volume Six

You may have seen these CDs with the Solitudes name on them at shops such as Bed, Bath, and Beyond and Super Target. They have blends of new age or classical music with nature sounds or music designed to relieve people from stress which I don't think really do so. These CDs and similar ones stocked next to them tend to usually suck. I paid little attention to these Solitudes CDs until I came across this LP at a thrift store. This LP is among the first 11 volumes released in the Solitudes series before a change of emphasis to what has been described in the above sentences. The first 11 volumes have only nature sounds. They are "acoustical environmental sound experiences composed of authentic natural sounds" created by filmmaker and producer Dan Gibson from sounds that Gibson himself recorded. The first 11 volumes are worth getting.




STORM ON A WILDERNESS LAKE

Since emotional responses to the wilderness vary widely, your reactions to 'Storm On A Wilderness Lake' might by totally at odds with the reactions of others. If it's your first time alone in the wilderness you could be exhilarated by nature in one of her moderately violent moods. Or you could be downright scared out of your wits.

If that's the case, then you aren't ready for the call of the loon. A call that easily transmits as a ghostly sound to some of us. Or beautifully haunting to others.

If you regularly 'cut out' to find refuge in the wilderness, eager to give yourself up to nature, you might never feel closer to the wilds, and to your inner being, than when thunder rumbles across the forest. You hear and watch the birds react, and the rain moves in, walling off the rest of the world. Now you are truly alone with your wilderness, and with yourself.

This side will act as a flashback, recreating a wilderness storm in intimate detail. The loons haunt the storm tossed lake, the raven practically talks to you about the storm in a surprising variety of vocal pyrotechnics. You'll recognize other voices from the lake and the trees, and you'll hear the familiar musical drip of the rain on the leaves and calm water.

Just when you remember that you thought the rain would never again let up, and the sun would never again come out, the rain stops. But not for long. Nature has you in her hand, and she's not through with you yet.

Until she's ready, you won't move from this wilderness lake.

WILDLIFE SPECIES FEATURED: Northern Waterthrush - Red-breasted Nuthatch - chestnut-sided Warbler - Common Raven - Common Loons - Spring Peeper Frogs - American Toads

NIGHT ON A WILDERNESS LAKE

The dying embers of the campfire glow dimly now. The aroma of fish fried in butter, fish you caught only hours ago, lingers over the campsite. The moon hangs above the trees, and casts a silvery-orange path across the lake. The breeze has died. Stillness is everywhere. You're alone at last.

Ah, but are you?

Of course, you are not. Just how many pairs of eyes have been peering curiously at your campsite, and at your activities around the campfire, you'll never know. But tally up a few of them, just from their voices.

The crickets we won't even try to estimate, but a loon, not far from shore, cries out, and further down the lake, other loons call across the water.

And what was that? A call that seems to come from slightly overhead. Startling, when you hear it for the first time - the barred owl lets you know you are right smack in the middle of its territory.

And, what was that? Just a few yards away, or so it seems. Not wolves! Not that close!

Yes, timber wolves. That close. After all, everybody enjoys a campfire.

There's no experience anywhere quite like night on a wilderness lake. Some find it's like trying to get through a night in a haunted house. But some of us think it's the epitome of the great escape.

WILDLIFE SPECIES FEATURED: Common Loons - Timber Wolves (adult and young) - Barred Owls - Crickets

Tracklisting:

Side A

1. Storm on a Wilderness Lake {29:54}

Side B

1. Night on a Wilderness Lake {29:50}

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A Walk in the Forest

The Sounds of Nature: A Walk in the Forest

released on CD in 1993

It's been a bit long between nature sounds posts. I hope to do this weekly again sometime soon. Enjoy a nice stroll in the forest.

From the liner notes:

Our walk begins serenely, with the soothing melodies of Sparrows and Mourning Doves, Robins and Blackbirds. Listen carefully, and soon you'll hear the lonely cry of a Hawk circling overhead, the "caw caw" of a Crow, and the repetitive, whistle-like song of a Whippoorwill.

Around the bend, we come upon a cool, bubbling country stream, where we are greeted by a throaty Bullfrog and a Clark's Nutcracker.

Minutes later we resume our journey, as we walk into an open field abuzz with Day Crickets and other insects. Better watch out for that Bee! There's the playful chatter of Red Squirrels and Chipmunks, and from above, the songs of Robins, Rufous-sided Towhees, and the Macgillivray's Warbler.

Back among the trees, we come to another babbling brook, the cool water dancing over pebbles and rocks. A Hawk glides overhead and chipmunks scout for food. A Woodpecker offers a song, while another drums against a tree. We follow the brook to a nearby waterfall, which empties into a gently lapping lake - the safe haven of ducks, geese and other water fowl.

As evening descends, a wind blows through the leaves and the lake is enveloped by a soft mist and a haunting cacophony of bullfrogs, loons and herons. Soon it is night - and we are serenaded by Tree Frogs and a Woodthrush; Cicadas and Crickets; the nocturnal Great Horned Owl and Barred Owl.

In the distance, we hear the baying and bark of a Wolf and, further away, a pack of Wolves howling in chorus with Screech Owls and a Red-Winged Blackbird. Listen closely, and be treated to Blackbirds, cooing Doves, Bobolinks and the repetitious phrases of a Song Thrush. And, as we soon hear, this is also Bear country.

Finally, we cross a small rivulet, where a Cardinal, then an Orange-Crowned Warbler, serenade us. Soon we are home and ready to begin our walk through the forest again.

Tracklisting:

1. A Walk in the Forest {59:05}

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Loon Talk

NorthSound - Loon Talk

released on cassette in 1992

Contains recordings of the loon's haunting and beautiful calls including wails, yodels, tremolos, and hoots. All of the loons' calls on the album were recorded in their natural environment somewhere in the Canadian wilderness.

From the liner notes:

THE TREMOLO
This is the loons' all-purpose call which can signal annoyance, worry, or greeting. Mated pairs use a tremolo duet when disturbance threatens their young. This duet is also used in early spring to reinforce pair bonding and advertise territorial rights.

Trivia: The tremolo is the only call loons can give while in flight.

THE WAIL
Often termed the "night call," the wail is considered the most primitive of loon sounds. It is also the first call attempted by loon chicks. Oliver Austin described the loon wail as "one of the loveliest sounds in nature," and it's the favorite among most loon listeners. The wail is frequently used in night chorusing and in answering the tremolo of loons flying overhead.

Trivia: This loon call is known to elicit the howls of wolves and coyotes.

THE YODEL
Sigurd Olson described the yodel as "the weirdest and wildest of calls ... beautiful and thrilling." Issued only by the male, the message of the yodel is territorial. When an intruding loon approaches another loon's territory, yodels are used as verbal attack. During confrontations, male loons may engage in "counter-singing" while the territorial female supports her mate with wails and tremolos.

Trivia: Even after the battle for turf is over, a resident male will often yodel for an hour or more.

THE HOOT
This one-note call sounds just like it reads if you go softly on the "t". A location call that lets the mate or chicks know the sender's whereabouts, the hoot is used mainly between family members. It may serve an "I'm OK, are you OK?" function. Trivia: While it is frequently used, the hoot is not often heard, because it is a quiet, intimate call.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Loon Talk side 1 {26:02}

Side 2

1. Loon Talk side 2 {28:40}

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