Nature Sound Map

“A great silence is spreading over the natural world even as the sound of man is becoming deafening” - Bernie Krause, field recorder and author of The Great Animal Orchestra

If you watch one of Bernie Krause’s TED talks, you will see him explain losses of wildlife through soundscapes he has recorded before and after forest logging events. The decline in biodiversity is evident.

Learning to understand our impact on wildlife through observing sound (or lack thereof) is a really powerful way to feel the changes that are occurring. Listening to soundscapes can help to push your emotions into realising the importance of protecting the natural world. If like me you've not been lucky enough to experience the sound of a rainforest in real life yet, it is completely hypnotising to hear field recordings and imagine how that's really happening somewhere in the world right now.

Developed by Wild Ambience and in collaboration with numerous professional nature sound designers, ‘Nature Sound Map’ lets you travel across the world to hear real life field recordings, from Madagascar’s distinct Lemur cry to Tasmania's Ancient Forest birds and insects. Hit play on one tropical rainstorm, and the app will automatically roll on to a neighbouring monsoon, meaning you can travel around the world from your desk in a day. Most of the recordings are binaural (they were recorded with two Microphones in stereo) which created a 360 degree soundscape, so listen with headphones to immerse yourself. It's so amazing! Listen here: http://www.naturesoundmap.com/

If you happen to have a recording that you think would fit on the Nature Sound Map, have a look at their submissions page here: http://www.naturesoundmap.com/submissions/