Fieldwork by Patrick Franke
I was quite surprised when, with the (brief) rise in temperature, Common Spadefoot Pelobates fuscusadvertising calls were suddenly heard from the canals and ditches surrounding my cabin.However, the species prefers sandy soils (to burrow) and stagnant or slow-flowing water for spawning.So the adjacent environment is a perfect biotope.
After a long winter, my local patch is slowly filling up with birds returning from wintering grounds.With their return, the place also fills with sound. One species that stands out visually and acousticallyis the Bluethroat Luscinia svecica.While wildlife photographers bother the males for their striking appearance, the wildife soundrecordist can listen and record the countless …
In the northern part of Germany, the distribution of the Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canusshows a larger gap. At the respective edges, the species is consequently found only veryirregularly – the species is a breeding bird only in small numbers very locally. While I was able to observe Grey-headed Woodpeckers regularly during my time in Leipzig,I …
I went to a local common Northern Raven Corvus corax roost. Unexpectedly, it started rainingand it was also very windy. I was a little undecided whether I should perhaps abort the session,but then decided to continue recording that rather rough setting.In the end, I liked the combination of everything much more than a clear recording …
June 2022There is not much to say about European Fire-bellied Toads Bombina bombina and thunderstorms.Both are among the most exciting noise sources in nature and for this reason are iconic subjects inFieldrecording like the AB stereo format used here. Here we go.
October 2021To be somehow bound to your own native region, means of course, that people from the pastpop up here and there (not only in conceivable trivial gossip the mother tells). In most cases,a surprisingly interesting thing, actually. As a person who has always been part of subcultures,such a meeting with ‘people from the past’ …
October 2021The recent history of the Eurasian Wolf Canis lupus in Central Europe, like almost everywhereelse in the world, is also a history of competition, suppression and finally persecution.In superstition, they were portrayed as dangerous to humans directly, they were in fact seenas competitors for food and were therefore killed throughout the area.In addition to …