Nature Is My Jam

If you’re like me, then you love the sounds of nature. From the dawn chorus of birds that rings in the start of another day to the howl of coyotes in the dark of night, these sounds ignite curiosity, excitement and a deep appreciation for our planet. You’re listening to Nature is my Jam, a show that explores the rich kaleidoscope of nature sounds and the art of capturing pristine audio in remote wilderness locations. Hello. I’m Darrin and I document the hidden corners of the world through sound, filmmaking, and photography. Each week, I will take you along with me as I create natural soundscapes. We will discuss how I record these sounds, but the star of each show will be nature itself. A high-quality audio immersion providing a brief respite from your hectic day. Subscribe now so you don’t miss an episode and I look forward to continuing this conversation with you soon.

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Nature Is My Jam

Red Fox Activity at Night

January 12, 2023 • Darrin Wassom • Season 2 • Episode 2

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I hesitate to call this week’s recording an episode because it is, shall we say, brief? I hiked a few trails today, hoping to come across some interesting sounds that didn’t involve a lake, river or stream. Even though I love the sound of water, I have limits. Recording in winter, or what northern Michigan is giving us for a winter, requires patience and a lot of failed attempts. I know where to find wildlife most of the time, but damn if they haven’t eluded me as of late.

Today started at the Kettles Trail, where the trail runs alongside a bog deep in the woods. (I know. More water.) There is a nice overlook that I thought might work for birds or perhaps otters or muskrats. While the trail had the right ingredients, its proximity to M-72 (State Highway) kept it out of the running for any audio recordings. However, it is an amazing trail and definitely worth a visit.

With the first hike under my belt, I made my way to the Windy Moraine Trail, which features an overlook above Glen Lake (I know, I know). This trail is essentially straight up and then straight down, but I still love it. There are sections where forest meets field, which is usually a great opportunity to record deer, fox, birds, etc but not today. It is a short trail but will definitely get your heart rate up in the stratosphere. I saw fox tracks and evidence of Pileated Woodpeckers but I didn’t find any wildlife to record.

I wanted/needed a recording for this week so drove over to Pyramid Point and hiked up the bluff that overlooks Lake Michigan (again; I know). It was dark by this time and there was complete cloud cover, so I wasn’t expecting a view, but I hoped I might get a recording of the waves below as they echoed around the standing trees at the top of the bluff. There was very little wind, so the waves were about as gentle as a mud puddle and barely audible in my headphones.

I completed the loop and as I was hiking through the meadows near the trailhead; I caught sight of a Red Fox in the beam of my headlamp. Then I saw another one and a minute later, started hearing them yip. The yipping sound followed me all the way back to the trailhead. As I got to the trailhead, I hooked up my shotgun microphone to the recorder, hoping to track their calls as they circled around the area.

Recording Details: