NEW YEAR´S EVE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE

January 2012
Having recorded the new years eve in the city center last year, (-> new years
eve inside a nesting box) I decided to record the turn of the year this time
in the countryside.

During the last months I did several birding and sound recording trips in a
area called Drömling - a nature reserve at the former intra-german border.
I expected a lot of roosting nordic geese and Whooper swans Cygnus cygnus
- and I should´t be disappointed.

At an artificial shallow water area called Flachwasserzone Mannhausen were
about 2000 geese and 40 swans. To my surprise 17 Tundra Swans Cygnus bewickii
were hidden among Whooper and Mute Swans Cygnus olor.

During the day I tried some different recording setups in the area.

120101, Great White-fronted Geese, Tundra Bean Geese, Greylag Geese,
Whooper-, Tundra Swan, Flachwasserzone Mannhausen, Germany

Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus

Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus

At 11pm I started the proper recording session. My aim was to document the
impact of the fireworks on the bird´s (acoustic) behavior. Most of the birds
were very nervous during the evening as an impact on firecrackers infrequent
bangs, remembering on gun shots.

Simultaneously to the fireworks increasing intensity the waterfowl´s anxiety
increased. The first flocks flew around an screamed in the darkness unaware
what was going on (?).
Fortunately the fireworks stopped after half an hour, maybe depending on the
lesser number of citizens in the countryside.

111231, new years eve 2011/12, Flachwasserzone Mannhausen, Germany

shot Tundra Bean Goose Anser serrirostris