THE PRACTICE OF SOUNDSCAPE ECOLOGY Welcoming the voices of nature to your garden*

“Natural sounds are an auditory link with our environment, one we need. Society’s growing ‘nature deficit disorder’ is likely to increase as we replace these sounds with the din made by humans.” - Bryan Pijanowski, PhD, Soundscape Ecologist

What is soundscape ecology? Plant wisely – “if you build it, they The study of sound in landscapes and the will come” acoustic relationships between living • Go native – Choose plants native to your organisms, human and non-human, and eco-region that are familiar to native their environment. The greater the density fauna. and diversity of nature’s chorus, the • Diversify – Different insects, birds and healthier the environment around you. other living organisms have different If we all become amateur soundscape preferences. ecologists, we will become better stewards • Layer – Include perennials, grasses, of the natural world! Here are some things shrubs and trees that grow to different you can do: heights as birds, insects and amphibians use different levels of habitat. • Reduce lawn and open areas – They Listen! have the least biodiversity and provide Take 10 minutes a week to actively listen to the least food and shelter. your surroundings. The more we tune in • Plant densely – Dense plantings in some to our soundscapes, the more likely we are areas provide shelter, protection, to understand which sounds to preserve and roosting and nesting places. which we might want to eliminate, and then act accordingly. Add other inducements "The world is full of magic • Water – Place shallow containers and things, patiently waiting for our plates or deeper tubs with rocks and senses to grow sharper.” water plants. Add a pond. Protect vernal - W.B. Yeats pools and wetlands.

* or patio, balcony, yard, community garden plot, etc. • Shelter – For toads and frogs, create a Resources toad abode by arranging stones into a small cave or using clay flowerpots Native Plant Lists: turned on their sides for housing. Put up • nrwa.org nesting boxes for birds. Add or leave • pollinator-pathway.org some snags and wood piles for birds and • ct.audubon.org/plants-for-birds other creatures. • xerces.org • Put up a bird feeder. • nwf.org/NativePlantFinder/Plants

“Natural sound could be the Books: ‘canary in the coal mine.’ Sound • Rachel Carson, The Silent Spring might be the critical first • Bernie Krause, The Great Animal indicator of changes in climate Orchestra: Finding the Origins of Music and weather patterns, or the in the World's Wild Places presence of pollution.” • Doug Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home - Bryan Pijanowski • Doug Tallamy, Nature’s Best Hope

• Doug Tallamy & Rick Darke, The Living Avoid things that deter, harm or kill Landscape: Designing for Beauty and • Reduce or eliminate pesticides, Biodiversity in the Home Garden herbicides, synthetic fertilizers. Birds, frogs and toads will help you take care of Other resources: garden pests naturally. • aza.org/frogwatch • Keep an eye on pets. Dogs and especially • Bianca Bosker, “Why Everything is cats, can be destructive to wildlife and Getting Louder: The tech industry is their habitats, especially birds, frogs and producing a rising din. Our bodies can’t toads. adapt.” The Atlantic, November 2019 • Minimize disturbance of your backyard • The Cornell Lab - pond or local wetland areas. allaboutbirds.org/news/how-to-learn- • Don’t add non-native frogs, toads or fish bird-songs-and-calls/ to your backyard. They can prey on • insectidentification.org native frogs, especially eggs and • National Park Service – Natural Sounds - tadpoles, and spread disease. www.nps.gov/subjects/sound • Cut the lights! Recent research has led • Brian Pijanowski et al., “Soundscape scientist to conclude that “artificial light Ecology: The Science of Sound in the at night – in combination with habitat Landscape” – BioScience, March 2011 loss, chemical pollution, invasive species, • Quiet Parks International – and climate change – is driving insect https://www.quietparks.org declines.” • Scientists Tune in To The 'Voices of The Landscape’ – NPR/WSHU, March 26, 2011 Listen!

"In order to see birds, it is necessary to become part of the silence." - Robert Lynd

Prepared by Cathy Smith, March 2020