Search - Bernie Krause :: Desert Solitudes

For nearly three weeks, we recorded in infinitely small regions of Gray Ranch, a vast 500 square mile Nature Conservancy easement in the panhandle of New Mexico just north of the Mexican border. In this high Sonoran/Chihuauan desert habitat, we have finally discovered a quiet place ? one uncluttered by the noises of aircraft, autos, and domestic animals. From the huge number of creatures whose voices we have captured on tape, I cannot possibly understand how anyone can think of deserts as being empty or boring. Dawn at Juniper Wells (Krause) features coyotes, a wealth of desert birds, including great horned owls blended with hot desert winds whispering through the dry grasses. Desert Serenade (Ruth Happel) begins at dawn as strong gusts of wind blow across open spaces accented by ravens, western meadowlarks, and mockingbirds. As evening descends, choruses of toads, frogs, and crickets call from a nearby oasis. DESERT SOLITUDES. Many think of the desert as a wasteland. Hardly. These two biophonies, Dawn at Juniper Wells and Desert Serenade, were recorded one spring in the Sonoran/Chihuauan desert in the panhandle of New Mexico ? oneof the truly quiet places in the lower 48 United States. It?s a placewhere living creatures call for attention from virtually every unique feature of the landscape where they?ve thrived for millennia in harmony with their surroundings. The coyotes are particularly haunting in the opening cut.