Dec
20
2017
Chris Watson interview with Richard Fidler
For those of you who (like myself) missed it when first broadcast a few months ago, here is a link to the delightful interview by Richard Fidler with British field recordist Chris Watson.
Chris is not only a hugely accomplished recordist, but a great story teller and sensitive naturalist, and unlike many interviewers dealing with sound and nature, Richard ‘gets it’.
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-chris-watson/9036566
Nov
22
2017
Perspectives on Listening Symposium – Brisbane
December 7-9, 2017
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Brisbane
Biosphere Soundscapes and the Queensland Conservatorium Research Centre, Griffith University are hosting “Perspectives on Listening”, an international symposium and workshop bringing together an interdisciplinary group of researchers to explore the role of sound in understanding place and environmental changes.
“Perspectives on Listening” will introduce the interdisciplinary possibilities of acoustic ecology and highlight emerging fields including ecoacoustics. The event features keynotes from Steven Feld (USA) and Monica Gagliano (West Australia) in addition to panels, research presentations, live performances, immersive installations, sound walks and field trips across the rainforests of the Sunshine Coast and aquatic ecosystems in Noosa Biosphere Reserve.
more »
Nov
13
2017
Sound recording the cloudforests of Papua New Guinea’s Huon Peninsula
Five members from the AWSRG have recently been field recording in the mountain forests of the Huon Peninsular in Papua New Guinea.
With three previous years recording in the region, Tony Baylis organised and lead this year’s expedition, comprising Sue Gould and her partner Rod Thorn (who both accompanied Tony last year), plus David Stewart and myself, Andrew Skeoch.
On the trail in Papua New Guinea – (from left) Rod Thorn, David Stewart, Andrew Skeoch, Tony Baylis and Sue Gould.
Tony’s connections with the local people were crucial to the expedition. Without permission and support from local landholders we simply could not have visited these forests. We hired porters from nearby villages to assist in moving all our equipment and supplies between camps. Here they arrive at our first bush camp in the morning, ready to help us relocate further up the mountain.
Tony and Rod ascending slowly. Trekking was exhausting, a combination of altitude and a vertical landscape. Often a day’s walk with only modest altitude gains, would involve first descending into a deep valley and then climbing up a sheer slope beyond. The locals were adapted to it, padding along in bare feet, but slippery rocks, mud and hidden tree roots were treacherous in our hiking boots. We relied on our walking poles for both balance and secure footing.
Oct
1
2017
A Magical Evening with Glossy Black Cockatoos
On one of the final evenings of our workshop, a group of us set out for Salt Caves Dam, to witness and record the Glossy Black Cockatoos coming in to drink on sunset.
We set up both terrestrial and hydrophone rigs, recording independently above and below the surface of the dam.
The hydrophones were filled with sound immediately, a rich symphony of aquatic insects fizzing away. However we had to wait quietly as the late afternoon ebbed before the glossy blacks came in. They timed their arrival just as the breeze stilled. A pair arrived first, and watched us unconcerned from a high vantage. After a while others drifted in, around 15 birds eventually, perching and calling back and forth before finally dropping down to the dam edge to drink just on nightfall.
Sep
30
2017
Minutes of AWSRG 2017 AGM
Our workshop at the Pilliga concluded with an AGM, minutes of which can be accessed here (pdf):
Minutes 2017 AGM of the AWSRG
Sep
21
2017
A week of sounding the Pilliga
In summing up our recent week of sharing sound in the Pilliga forest, I can’t say it better than Tony Baylis; “the best AWSRG workshop I’ve been to”.
From left to right (* in back row):
Kerry Watson, Fred van Gessel, Michael Hannan, Julie Broken-Brow, Sue Gould, Jessie Cappadonna, Rod Thorn*, Vicki Hallett & son Jackson, Bob Tomkins*, Lucy Farrow, Howard Plowright, Leah Barclay*, David Secomb*, Pat (from Gamilaroi mob), Jennifer Ackerman*, Nicole Carroll, Sue Boardman*, Jill Plowright, Michael Mahony*, Marg Eller*, Andrew Skeoch, Mike Fitzgerald*, Ros Bandt, Arthur McDevitt*, Melinda Barrie & Tony Baylis.
Photographer: Jeff Eller
Aug
31
2017
Provisional Program for September 2017 workshop
Download the provisional program for our September workshop/conference (pdf).
Flexibility will allow us to respond to discussion and interest from the group in the structuring of some sessions, and spontaneity in adding others.
Jun
26
2017
The forgotten songs of Sydney’s birdsong
Forgotten Songs commemorates the songs of fifty birds once heard in central Sydney, before they were gradually forced out by European settlement. The calls, which filter down from the canopy of birdcages suspended above Angel Place, change as day shifts to night; the daytime birds’ songs disappearing with the sun, and those of the nocturnal birds, which inhabited the area, sounding into the evening.
This delightful installation was a collaboration between ecologists and sound artists, with the AWSRG’s Fred van Gessel providing the birdsong recordings.
This artwork was commissioned in 2009 and has now been retained as a permanent installation.
Jun
26
2017
Transforming climate change data into music
Ten years ago, old-school graphs and text-based data were the only way to communicate the growing problem of climate change. But when it comes to inspiring action, a relentless march of charts can disengage many. For Leah Borromeo, co-founder of Climate Symphony, it became clear a different approach was needed.
“Music makes us feel things,” she says. “It affects us physiologically, emotionally. Sound has always acted as a warning for us, we have this ingrained in our limbic system. This is a new way of expressing the climate change issue.”
Jun
9
2017
Speakers for the September 2017 workshop
We’re delighted to announce the speakers and facilitators for our September 2017 workshop.
Despite being a small, independent organisation, we’ve managed to interest some high profile speakers across diverse areas of nature sound research and practice to attend and share their experience.
Our special guest will be American science author Jennifer Ackerman, who’s fascinating book ‘The Genius of Birds’ has been widely read and praised. She will be presenting the latest research on avian intelligence and how it informs communication and repertoire.
In addition to presentations from leading bioacoustic researchers across bird, frog, insect and bat studies, we have eco-acousticians talking about both field work and analysis. Citizen science projects will be discussed, and the arts featured with participatory and performance components.
But the core of the week’s events will focus on developing practical recording skills, in field sessions run by experienced recordists. Once indoors, we’ll also be demonstrating how to clean up, publish and archive recordings.
It’s looking to be an exciting week of both presentations and field workshops. We hope you can join us!
For workshop info and to book your place, please see:
https://awsrg.org.au/2017-workshop/
Andrew Skeoch: listen@netcon.net.au
Sue Gould: susanfgould@yahoo.com
Our speakers and facilitators:
David Paull – local ecologist, who will give us an overview of the Pilliga.
Dr. Leah Barclay – Researcher, artist and educator at Griffith University. President of the Australian Forum for Acoustic Ecology, the vice-president of the World Forum of Acoustic Ecology. Director of Biosphere Soundscapes & River Listening Projects.
Jennifer Ackerman – science writer and author of ‘The Genius of Birds’.
Dr. Ros Bandt – internationally recognised composer and sound artist, with a particular interest in environmental music and listening.
Julie Broken Brow – PhD student using Anabat for her research on bats.
Jessie Cappadonna – Australian Citizen Science Association, and research project using acoustic monitoring for Eastern Bristlebirds.
Alex Drew – CSIRO, Australian National Wildlife Collection – Wildlife Sound Archive.
Lucy Farrow – Research project on acoustic signalling of Noisy Miners.
Dr. Michael Mahoney – synchronous calling of frogs and what it may mean.
Dr. Sue Gould – Vocalisations of the Huon Bowerbird.
David Smith – Charles Sturt University, project using remote acoustic sensors.
Michael Towsey – Sonographic representation of long-temporal eco-acoustic data.
Andrew Skeoch – Using Izotope software to process and repair field recordings.