Deer Lake Friday Saturday Sunday

2025

These field recordings were made during spring 2025 at NAISA (New Adventures in Sound Art) at Deer Lake, three hours north of Toronto, Canada. Dawn was a crisp 2° C, midday reached 14° C, and dusk went down to 6° C.

Close up and at a distance, forest life can be heard. At times a massive conversation amongst the same bird species as well as across the variety found in the North Bay region. Not far we can still detect anthropogenic sound in hums, combustion engines, and gestures that often mimic those of woodpeckers and squirrels. Some days needed more patience and attention to notice and listen through distance and wind in the trees or water by the culvert, while other days required simple presence to take in the almost overwhelming soundscape of activity.

Birds recorded included American Crow, American Goldfinch, Common Grackle, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Ruffed Grouse, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Gray Catbird, Purple Finch, Wood Thrush, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Pine Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown Creeper, American Robin, Marsh Wren, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, Song Sparrow as well as the Spring Peeper Frog, Grey Squirrel, and Red Squirrel.

These are binaural (Schneider Disk) field recordings that are best listened to with headphones.