SOUNDS OF NATURE

There are some sounds in the great outdoors that you hear and they touch your soul. You don’t have to see what made the sound. When you hear the sound you instantly see it in your mind. You may even hear, and see them as you read this.

To some, the bugle of an elk is like that. So is the haunting howl of the wolf, or the call of a loon. It might even be a mountain lion’s throaty growl or the gruff huff of a grizzly or black bear. Those of us who do not live where these animals live rarely, if ever, get to hear these sounds in the wild unless we travel to where they are. If we do, they linger in our memories.

Most of us have sounds in nature that stir us. A buck grunt in a November woods. The sound of an eagle flying over a quiet lake. A turkey gobble on a spring morning. It could be the kingfisher’s rattling call as he flies up and down a creek. Coyotes howling on a dark, moonlit night.

Maybe it is the quacking of ducks as they settle onto the water or the honking of geese as they fly overhead. The drumming sound of a woodpecker trying to attract a mate, or the booming sounds of prairie chickens during their mating ritual. Maybe it is the strange sound of a woodcock doing his sky dance to impress the ladies. Some of us hope we will once again hear the sound of the bobwhite quail.

Songbirds also add to nature’s chorus. Chickadees sing “chick-a-dee-dee-dee.” Cardinals join them with their “purdy-purdy-purdy.” The robin’s whistling “cheerup-cheery-cheerio-cheerup” is joined by the tweets and whistles of all their friends. The squeal of a hawk will silence the bird music and also get the squirrels barking an alarm to their buddies.

Owls ask us “who, who, who cooks for you.” Crows “caw, caw, caw” and then caw some more. The sound of peeper frogs or a whip-poor-will means spring is here. The flapping sound of hummingbird wings and their distinctive chirp will soon follow.

The rhythmic choruses of katydids can be so loud that they drown out nearly all other sounds. Chirps of tree crickets in the night. Count the number of its high-pitched musical chirps in 15 seconds and add 40 to calculate the outdoor temperature in Fahrenheit. It does work. Did you hear them as you read this?

The sounds of nature are everywhere if we take the time to listen. They are  not just from the animals and birds. A rush of wind through the treetops. The rattling of dried fall leaves in a breeze. The sound of leaves crunching underfoot. Booming thunder. A crack of lightning. Dripping rain. The popping and crackling of a campfire. A stream flowing over rocks. The soothing sounds of a waterfall.

To some, it is ocean waves crashing onto a sandy beach. To others, it may be the “plip, plop, plop, plop” sound of a jitterbug fishing lure gurgling across the water. The splash of a big bass as it rises out of the water to engulf it.

Nature sounds not only soothe our souls, but they are also great for our minds and bodies. Researchers say there is a scientific explanation for why sounds from nature have such a restoring effect on us. According to a study, they physically alter the connections in our brains to keep other thoughts out. Nature sounds even lower our heart rate. The exercise we get going to and from our listening places is an added benefit.

You are not likely to hear nature sounds unless you get out in God’s great outdoors. When you do, you need to force yourself to sit still and listen. It seems we humans are continually on the move and not very quietly. We also carry the baggage of everyday worries. What’s on the news, bills that need to be paid, work we need to do.

You have to block all that out. Remain still and quiet and pay attention to the sounds of nature. But believe me, that does not come easy. You can’t just stop, listen for a few minutes, and then move on. You have to settle down and tune into the sounds around you. I like to take some of that time to talk to God and thank Him for creating all that I see and hear while I am out there.

Those of us who sit in a deer stand, turkey or duck blind have no problem sitting quietly and still. We have to if we want to be successful. If you want to go out and listen to nature sounds, I suggest you find a fallen tree, a stump, or a big flat rock. Make a comfortable cushion of leaves and pine needles, or take along a pad to sit on.

Now, don’t do anything but relax. Don’t let restlessness or thoughts of other matters creep back into your mind. Stay relaxed and breathe slowly and easily. If you remain still, the wildlife around you will forget you are even there. Soon, the sounds of nature will return.

The real art of listening to nature is not hearing the sounds of nature, as it is identifying them. Listening carefully to sounds and learning what makes those sounds can help you begin to distinguish one sound from another. That gives you a greater appreciation for what you are hearing.

A good thing about computers and smartphones is they make it easier than ever to learn the sounds you hear in nature. That may be able to help, but there is no substitute for firsthand experience. It’s not just an ability to identify the sounds but also an understanding of their meanings. That will come to you when you spend time listening carefully.

You can download and listen to nature sounds on your computer or smartphone. I sometimes listen to nature sounds accompanied by the melodic sounds of the Native American flute as I drive down the road or relax in my recliner. If it is a cold, nasty day not fit for man or beast, I might put my headphones on and drift off to sleep as I listen to the sounds of nature. That is all good, but it does not replace being out there in God’s masterful creation of the great outdoors and being stirred by the sounds of nature.