The Sound Of Nature

Today I have another challenge I'm going to try. I've shown you very many pictures of nature here, and yesterday I talked about the smell of nature. Now I want to talk about the sound of nature. I could easily just post a few sound files, but where would the fun be in doing that? I wanna talk!

As you might have noticed I've been thinking a lot about senses other than just sight lately. The reason is that these others have really been strong. It's as if they have been jumping out at me in the last few weeks. All of the senses together are what help us appreciate the world around us.

The last several times I've entered my current favorite nature park, I've heard the most interesting sound. In the tall grass before I enter the forest there are many insects. Most flying insects make a buzzing sound with their wings. In this grass I have been hearing sounds like tiny airplanes or helicopters.

These sounds have that same sputtering hum of a propeller on an old airplane, except they are small. The sound is much bigger than from a normal insect though. I've never seen these insects, but I keep expecting to see something as big as my hand rise up out of the grass. My hands are like my feet. Big.

When I enter the forest, the first thing I hear is the sound of dozens of chirping birds. There are so many that I can't tell them apart. Some of these bird calls are the sweetest sounds you would ever want to here. Others are an ugly caw or croaking sound. Sometimes I even get to hear the curious sound of an owl.

At certain times in this same area I've heard the chirps of hundreds of frogs in the vernal pond that's to the left of the trail. I've told that story before if you want to read it. This is also the area where I usually begin to hear the noisy sound of some of the more obnoxious and inconsiderate humans. Some are more well behaved than others though.

As I move deeper into the forest I'll begin to hear the rustling of leaves. It's sometimes just the wind, but often times it will be a mischievous squirrel or a robin foraging the forest floor for a meal. Sometimes an even louder almost crashing sound means there is a deer that just noticed my presence.

In the winter and early spring when the wind blows the trees will sway and crash together. This is a dangerous time for anyone in the forest. Even a small wind can break large tree trunks that are bare of their warm weather leaves. I've witnessed this a few times. It sounds like a giant wrecking ball when it crashes and tears through the side of a house. It's a scary experience to be close to that sound.

I told you a few months ago at the end of winter about a very strange and curious sound I heard. It sounded like a rumbling train or a wooden crunching crash, like a giant eating a tree. The sound was coming from the lake. When I approached, it was like being in an earthquake. It turned out to be the thin ice cracking because of the warming weather.

Speaking of the lake, the sound of water running from the dam at the end of the lake is fun to hear. It must be the same at a waterfall. All of that rushing water crashing to the river below. This amazing roaring sound is one of my favorites. When the lake is full after a rainstorm, the water rushing over this dam can drown out everything.

Another great sound is of a gently flowing river or a creek. This is probably the most soothing sound you will ever hear in nature. This is in huge contrast to the violence of a dam or waterfall. I think the trickle of running water can consistently put any human to sleep. Just think of that gentle sound of flowing water and your eyes might begin to close.

What sounds do you hear from nature? Any sound will do. Is it in the forest, or even right in the city? Maybe it's a sound just outside your window. The sound of nature is everywhere. All you have to do is listen. It can be pleasant or unpleasant. There are so many. What do you hear?

Oh, I almost forgot one. The last sound I'll mention here is the obnoxious but fun sound of honking geese. I saved this sound for last for one simple reason. It's a very obvious clue to my post for tomorrow. I think you've guessed what it will be about. Don't worry, I have a very fun surprise for you tomorrow. I'll talk to you then.