Harbor seals spend up to 70% of their life underwater. Their aquatic home can sound strange and even abstract to our ears. In this recording from Jenner we can hear harbor seals making grunting sounds, and blowing bubbles.
S2-18 A Northern Mockingbird Singing His Heart Out
The Northern Mockingbird is an impressive singer! This species gets its name from how they mimic the songs of other birds. The more sounds the male is able to include in his song, the more likely he is to attract a female.
S2-17 Marsh Wrens at Kennedy Park
Marsh Wrens are about the size of a sparrow. They’re a rusty-brown color, with black and white markings that resemble eyebrows. These were recorded at Kennedy Park, in Napa. Listen carefully and you’ll hear a quick couple of “chuck” sounds, followed by the Marsh Wren’s “rapid fire” song.
S2-16 Swainson’s Thrushes on the Russian River Estuary
The Swainson’s Thrush is one of those birds that you’re more likely to hear than see. If you paddle along the south bank of the Russian River Estuary, near Jenner… you might just hear the beautiful music of our russet-backed Swainson’s Thrush!
S2-15 Downy Woodpeckers and Chicks
In this episode we return to the headwaters of Sonoma Creek, in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park to listen to Downy Woodpecker chicks. We were last here in winter, but now it’s spring.
S2-14 Western Bluebirds at a Backyard Nestbox
Western Bluebirds are a small thrush that can sometimes be found in backyard nest boxes. As this male Western Bluebird flies up to the entrance of the nestbox the chicks get very excited. Sometimes, if you sit quietly and listen, you can observe a lot in your own backyard!
S2-13 Springtime at London Lake
Springtime at London Lake, in Jack London State Historic Park, is alive with the sound of many species of birds and insects.
S2-12 The Mysterious Song of the Varied Thrush
The Varied Thrush's song has been described as haunting, ethereal, and mysterious. Listen, and you might just hear the spirit of the old growth forests they call home, reverberating in the song of the Varied Thrush!
S2-11 A Bewick's Wren at Bothe Napa Valley State Park
By the end of his second month the male Bewick's Wren has found his own unique Voice. This will be the song he sings for his entire life!
S2-10 The Red-breasted Nuthatch in Sonoma County
Red-breasted Nuthatches can be found in parts of Sonoma County. Like in Annadel State Park. The next time you visit your favorite stand of conifer trees, keep an ear out for the Red-breasted Nuthatch!
S2-09 Black-tailed Deer Alarm Sounds
Deep down in their DNA Black-tailed Deer are wired to be on alert for predators. When a mountain lion or say, a bobcat is nearby, Black-tailed Deer will sound an alarm.
S2-08 The Western Screech-Owl
They're small, and hard to see at night. But when you hear that bouncing ball rhythm coming from the forest, you'll know it's a Western Screech-Owl!
S2-07 A Mourning Dove at Dusk
Mourning Doves get their name from the sound they make. People sometimes describe it as being sad, or mournful, so that's why naturalists have named them the Mourning Dove. Their gentle cooing add ssomething special to the soundscape!
S2-06 Red-winged Blackbirds Singing Conk-la-Ree!
Red-winged Blackbirds have a strong and clear voice. Their songs and calls easily carry over water and across fields. The classic Red-winged Blackbird song sounds like they're singing "conk-la-ree, conk-la-ree."
S2-05 Russian River Quietude #1
The real power of quietude is that it can speak so deeply to our hearts. Like in this moment on the Russian River, on a rainy winter’s day.
S2-04 Restored Habitat at Denman Reach
Work’s been done at Denman Reach to restore riparian habitat along the River. The nearby roads are noisy, of course. But the birds do seem to be making good use of their new habitat in the Denman Reach open space area!
S2-03 Pacific Treefrogs in Full Chorus
Pacific Treefrog sounds range from quiet to very loud! The males vocalize to establish territory, and also to attract females. Once they get going it's called a chorus.
S2-02 The White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatches get their name from the way they crack open seeds. They wedge the seed into a nook in the bark of a tree and tap at it with their beak until they hatch it open. Listen to this small flock of White-breasted nuthatches calling and tapping in the trees.
S2-01 The Headwaters of Sonoma Creek in Winter
The headwaters of Sonoma Creek, in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, is a place of many moods. In the Spring it’s alive with the sound of birds and insects. But now, in the winter, it's hushed, and subdued.
S1-40 Rainfall in a Redwood Forest
Redwood forests are strong and resilient, but they need time and the rain that comes each Winter to grow. Over the last hundred and twenty-five years this one has gradually become a forest again.