For Aldo Leopold, part of the enjoyment of being outdoors was experiencing the sounds of nature. His essays in A Sand Count Almanac frequently reference how natural sounds provide an important sense of place. Today, it is increasingly difficult to escape the noise of machines and development, even in places designated as wilderness, which makes it tough to study or simply enjoy natural soundscapes. Understanding the change in nature’s music and the impact of sounds introduced by people is part of a growing and important field of study. Professor Stan Temple will explore Aldo Leopold’s fascination with natural sounds, introduce the new field of soundscape ecology, and share his detailed recreation of the dawn chorus of birds that Leopold meticulously documented at the Shack in June 1940.

Learn more about Dr. Temple: https://www.aldoleopold.org/post/staff-board/stan-temple/ 

Soundscape and Sense of Place