AWSRG news & events
Oct
3
2024
Bowra 2024 campout report
by Andrew Skeoch
The AWSRG’s biennial gathering has recently been held at Bowra Reserve in southern Queensland.
Like our event two years ago at Gluepot, it was a self-sufficient campout affair. Unlike Gluepot however, when storms constrained attendees to camp, the weather at Bowra was kinder, with only a little rain and some spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Despite the relative remoteness of our chosen location, 17 members attended, and it was wonderful to have some of the elders of our tribe present – Bob Tomkins, David Stewart, Kerry Watson and Fred van Gessel. Also heartening was the company of (relatively) younger attendees, including Ashley Walker from Adelaide, Russell Wyatt (accompanying Fred), and Mike Fitzgerald’s daughter Clem.
Front row: David Stewart, Clem Fitzgerald, Marg & Jeff Eller, Rob Garbutt, Tony Baylis, Fred van Gessel and Mike Fitzgerald.
Missing (as they had to leave before we got our act together for this photo): Arwen Ximenes, Sharon Knott & Kerry Watson.
Bowra (an Australian Wildlife Conservancy property) protects a mosaic of dry country habitats: a variety of woodlands including mulga, plus grasslands, rocky ridges, and a number of perennial wetlands which provide refuge in times of drought.
It’s no surprise then that the place is renowned for its birding. We had a resident Spotted Bowerbird in camp, a pair of Hobbies active nearby, Brown Treecreepers foraging almost underfoot, and on the first morning a Pink Cockatoo flyover was a good sign. Even a short dawn walk from camp provided good recording opportunities – Purple-back Fairy-wrens, Pied Honeyeaters, crakes (if you were lucky), some very active Rufous Songlarks, and I enjoyed documenting the local dialect of Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters.
Also nearby was a small wetland area alive with frogs. On the first evening, David counted upwards of eight species, however over successive days, and for no reason we could discern, they quietened down considerably. Meanwhile, Willie Wagtails which had been quiet previously, decided they’d begin singing continually overnight, a mixed blessing for those camped near their roost trees.
During the days, from our base at the campground, we’d set off to explore the reserve. Driving through the landscape, emus with cohorts of chicks were abundant, as were groups of red kangaroos lounging around. The riparian areas around the wetlands provided the most diversity of species, with many breeding. For me, seeing and hearing Plum-headed Finches for the first time was a highlight. But even the drier rocky ridges had their rewards, with Hall’s Babblers attracting several of us to try recording them, with varying success.
Most afternoons, we convened in the shed for an informal program of talks. Bob shared his trials of recording in gale force winds on sub-Antarctic islands, Tony recounted his expeditions to the cloudforests of PNG’s Huon Peninsular, Neil gave an introduction to AI, and I presented an interpretation of the dawn chorus as a collective avian behaviour. On the final day we had an animated and positive discussion about the group’s future, particularly in light of the journal being discontinued.
While the knowledge sharing, natural surroundings and recording opportunities were all enjoyable, our gatherings are really about conviviality and reconnecting as friends. And by that measure, it was a truly memorable week.
Dec
29
2023
AWSRG Victorian Gathering, 11/12th Nov 2023
by Roslyn Oades
Creeping along the hilly, dirt road to Strangways in regional Victoria, I was quite unsure what to expect.
I signed up as a member of Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group several years ago during Melbourne lockdowns. I’d enjoyed listening to their recordings, reading their articles, following group email exchanges, and on one occasion attending a fascinating online listening party, with audio accompanied by spectrograms. But, to be blunt, I was mostly an online AWSRG lurker. When it came to their in-person field excursions, I felt too much of an imposter to attend. However, on this occasion, the gathering was only a couple of hours from home, so I decided to take the plunge…
Following the directions I’d been sent, I took a left at the old ‘Land for Wildlife’ sign and pulled up at a charming mud-brick house surrounded by bushland. I was greeted by Andrew Skeoch, the AWSRG’s president, whose insightful new book I’d just begun reading. Andrew had generously opened his home to an enthusiastic group of AWSRG field-recordists for the weekend – both novices and experts alike. I fell into the novice end – highly curious, and with a lot to learn.
My adventures in sound over the next two days blew my mind. Our friendly group of around a dozen included several musicians, audio engineers, academics, a sound designer, a bird watcher and a few other field-recording novices like myself. One thing we all had in common was a passion for nature recordings and the technology that allows us to document natural environments with fidelity. The weekend was full of generous exchanges of knowledge, artistic sharing, close listening, ample food and warm company – while also managing to be very relaxed.
Highlights included experiencing one of Vicki Hallett’s responsive environmental music improvisations on clarinet in the bush at dusk on Saturday:
Earlier in the day, we’d also been introduced to the work of the Bowerbird Collective – two classical musicians who (by a serendipitous coincidence) were performing a duo concert of environmentally-themed music nearby in Maldon that afternoon. After they’d dropped by to join us for lunch and speak about their work, we attended the concert which featured nature audio and video woven among the live music.
The following morning, several of us rose early to record the dawn chorus, each using our own recorders, allowing a comparison of equipment. A small group of Brown-headed Honeyeaters chipped in the canopy overhead, while a Scarlet Robin, Bronzewing Pigeon, Magpies, Yellow-faced Honeyeaters and White-throated Treecreepers called not far off.
Back in Andrew’s studio, we compared our recording methods and learned about audio processing techniques using Isotope RX.
I came home from my adventure in Strangways feeling inspired, nurtured and energised – and with a new list of listening and reading materials to dive into. I was so appreciative of this opportunity, and in particular, the warm hospitality and generosity of spirit I encountered among the AWSRG community. I look forward to attending another gathering in future, and recommend any fellow AWSRG lurkers to do the same.
Aug
21
2022
Vale Ian Venables
With sadness we advise of the passing of one of our members, Ian Venables. Ian has been part of our group for nearly quarter of a century, attending many conferences over the years and co-ordinating the 2001 event at Lady Elliot Island. As a keen and knowledgeable birder, Ian also played a significant role in Birds Queensland. We extend our sympathies to his wife, Denise, and their family.
Ian’s funeral service will be held on Wednesday 24 August 2022 at Centenary Memorial Gardens, 353 Wacol Station Rd, Sumner Qld at 3.30pm.
Nov
2
2021
ASRA 2021 Conference – Survival and Revival, Nov 9-11
Australasian Sound Recordings Association
2021 Conference – Survival and Revival
9-11 November 2021
Online Conference
Program & Ticket Registration
https://www.asra.asn.au/asra-2021-conference-survival-and-revival
Announcing this year’s Australasian Sound Recordings Association’s conference Survival and Revival which will be held online from 9-11 November. The conference theme is about the creation, use and preservation of sound recordings during the present time of pandemic, climate emergency and social and political upheaval. The program will examine new and shared challenges, collaborations and opportunities associated with sound recordings. It is aimed at sound archivists, audio engineers, broadcasters, publishers, sound creatives and field recordists.
Of special interest is the inclusion of an afternoon session (Thursday 11th Nov) devoted to environmental sound that will be moderated by Andrew Skeoch. The program includes AWSRG members, Tony Baylis, Mike Fitzgerald, Vicki Hallett and Ros Bandt, who will discuss a range of topics about the use of field/sound recordings in their respective practices. Topics include field recording in remote parts of Australasia, sound art case studies, the four seasons after the megablaze and an interrogation into why we record. In addition, Nat Grant will investigate the kinds of histories and memories that can be shared through making and experiencing field recordings and sound walks, and Alana Blackburn will discuss the collaborative process between sound designer and performer using sound recordings, focusing on her recent work on Regrowth with composer Ros Bandt.
Presenter’s abstracts, session times and ticket registrations are available at the conference website.
Aug
26
2021
Les Gilbert, 1946 – 2021
Les in Spain by Gillian Chaplin
Les Gilbert – musician, composer, sound recordist and multimedia company director – has died on 17 August, aged 75.
Les was not formally a member of the AWSRG, focusing on his own extremely time-consuming work, however he has been an important figure in Australian nature recording. He attended the Rotamah Island gathering in the early pre-AWSRG days, and was a delegate at the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology conference in Melbourne in 2003, so many long-term AWSRG members will remember him. His 1990 Kakadu Billabong CD was a particular inspiration to myself.
This tribute to Les is offered by John Campbell, who did audio production and post-production work for him from 1992 to 2018. more »
Aug
20
2021
2021 AGM – September 11 @ 3pm (AEST)
You are warmly invited to join us online for our 2021 AGM, to be followed by a sharing of recordings.
Saturday, September 11th, 2021, 3pm (AEST).
To be hosted online via zoom, click here to register for the event and receive the meeting link.
Jun
27
2021
AWSRG Winter Listening Party
Join us for an AWSRG Winter Listening Party.
Wednesday, July 14th at 7.00pm AEST
This will an opportunity to gather, chat and share recordings. Contribute a recording or two to the evening by sending audio no later than 24hrs beforehand (possibly via WeTransfer.com) to: listeningearth (you know the symbol) gmail (dot) com.
Registration is free but required to access the meeting link
Apr
8
2021
Earth Law – an introduction by Michelle Maloney
As we face a climate changed world and transition away from our destructive reliance of fossil fuels, human societies need to create new ways of working together and nurturing the wider Earth community – the need for new governance systems has never been greater.
Our April online seminar will be an introduction to Earth jurisprudence, an exciting approach that can reshape the way we protect of nature.
April 21st at 7.00pm AEST
Feb
21
2021
South America – A Nature Sound Journey, with Juan Pablo Culasso
Our March seminar will take us to South America, with nature sound recordist Juan Pablo Culasso.
Jan
30
2021
Pied Butcherbird Song with Hollis Taylor
Our February AWSRG seminar will be a talk by Hollis Taylor on her research into the songs of the Pied Butcherbird.
