I've had the privilege of growing up in a remote part of Eastern Europe surrounded by wild places ripe for exploration and, most importantly, a distinct lack of man-made sound. As I grew up and traveled further from home, I realized that noise pollution is actually the norm and naturally quiet places are becoming extinct. I believe quiet places are in dire need of protection and I hope that my recordings will determine listeners to appreciate and help safeguard them. - George Vlad
Jungle Sounds - Birdsong in Congo
This is a field recording I made in a village in Central Gabon on my expedition to the Congo basin rainforest. We stopped to buy fruit from a village and it sounded so good that we decided to spend the night with a very welcoming local family. After a 5 minute walk away from the main road we found this gorgeous wild banana grove where a myriad birds were singing. This soundscape was captured there the next morning with a field recording rig that I set up at 3 am and left recording until midday.
Jungle Sounds - Dawn in Borneo
It's 5am deep in the Borneo rainforest. Cicadas, crickets and katydids are winding down their night calls but birds haven't started to sing just yet. Gibbons climb to the top of trees and start calling to let other troops know they're around. Birds and daytime insects slowly wake up and start calling too. Recorded in Borneo's rainforest with Sony PCM D10, Lom MikroUsi micropohones and BubbleBee Windbubbles. I left the drop rig out in the jungle for 24 hours so I could capture a full day-night cycle.
Nature Sounds - Dawn Chorus in Ethiopia
Birds sing and monkeys call on an overcast morning at a clearing deep in the Harenna forest. Wildlife has been up for hours and the dawn chorus is in full swing. Gigantic hornbills fly around, their harsh feathers sounding like miniature aircraft when gliding. The melodious song of Orioles and Boubous contrasts heavily with the harsh donkey-like neighing of Silvery-cheeked Hornbills. Frog croaks occasionally punctuate the beautiful soundscape. Every now and then the terrifying roar of Colobus Monkeys can be heard from several troops advertising their territory. Recorded in the beautiful Harenna Forest just south of Bale Mountains National Park in Ethiopia. Technical details: Sony PCM D10 and Lom MikroUsi microphones left out for 48 hours as drop rig.
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Jungle Sounds - Rainy Morning in Amazon
Earlier this year I had the privilege of visiting remote parts of the Amazon jungle in Eastern Peru. It would be impossible to put into words what it felt like to be there, waking up before dawn to the sound of birds and soft rain and to the earthy smell of decomposing vegetation. All I can do is share these beautiful recordings in the hope that you can feel a little closer to this fascinating ecosystem. Listen out for the bubbling calls of Motmots, my favorite bird. They're not difficult to spot.
Jungle Sounds - Thunderstorm in Congo
Deep in the Congo Basin rainforest, a powerful thunderstorm is approaching. Piercing insect calls are interrupted by rolling thunder but this is not an idyllic landscape. The jungle is incredibly hot and humid. Flies and mosquitoes charge at any living being, sticking to the skin as they bite; snakes lie in the undergrowth; forest elephants and silverback gorillas patrol their territories. The soundscape is fascinating though and more than worth the long days of driving and hiking required to get here. Recorded with Sony PCM D100 in Ivindo National Park on a month-long field recording expedition to the rainforest in Gabon.
Nature and Wildlife Sounds - Dawn in South African bush
Nature and wildlife sounds - dawn chorus in an almost dry riverbed on the border between South Africa and Botswana. This is one of the most lush and diverse soundscapes I've experienced featuring a multitude of bird species. From the low rhythmic notes of doves and hoopoes to higher pitched calls of cuckoos and kingfishers, it all creates a beautiful symphony. The occasional geese flying past provide interesting changes in the soundscape, and everything is firmly located in a very live space. My favorite part is at 13:07 when some geese fly by and cause everyone else to start calling even louder. The ensuing racket is a beautifully organized chaos of rhythms and tones. Recorded in 2016 in the Limpopo province of South Africa.